A businessman and a child have reportedly been abducted in separate incidents in Balochistan’s Kech district, adding to growing concerns over an apparent increase in kidnapping cases across Balochistan, particularly in the Makran region.
According to local sources, armed men riding motorcycles allegedly abducted Khalil Haleem, the minor son of businessman Abdul Haleem, from the Rodban area of Tump tehsil on Friday. The child was reportedly taken away at gunpoint.
Sources further claimed that the abductors later demanded a substantial ransom from the family. However, neither the family nor the authorities have publicly confirmed the alleged ransom demand.
The incident follows earlier reports of another alleged kidnapping for ransom in Tump’s Phulabad area, where a young man was reportedly abducted. The recurrence of such incidents has prompted concern among local residents regarding the deteriorating security situation in parts of Kech district.
Political, social and community representatives have condemned the reported kidnappings and called on the authorities to take effective measures against those involved. Local residents have also stated that such incidents are contrary to Baloch social traditions and cultural values.
In a separate incident on Saturday evening, armed men allegedly abducted businessman Aqeel Akbar from Bilnagor in the Dasht area. According to local sources, Akbar was involved in lottery-related and other business activities in the region. No one has taken responsibility for the abduction, and no information has emerged regarding any possible ransom demand.
Observers and local residents have expressed concern over what they describe as an increase in kidnapping-for-ransom cases in various parts of Balochistan, particularly in the Makran division. However, comprehensive official statistics on the reported rise have not been made publicly available.
Meanwhile, on 22 May 2026, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) issued a public statement outlining what it described as its permanent organisational policy against kidnapping for ransom. In the statement, the group said it did not consider kidnapping for ransom to be a legitimate means of generating financial resources and denied any involvement in such activities.
The organisation further alleged that certain criminal elements were using its name while carrying out kidnappings and ransom demands. It urged members of the public not to pay any ransom demanded in the BLA’s name and said complaints should be reported through its claimed official channels. The statement also said the group would take action against individuals found to be misusing its name.
In a separate case documented on 28 November 2025, The Balochistan Post (TBP) reported that a young man identified as Imran, son of Nadil, was found dead after allegedly being kidnapped for ransom. According to the report, the victim’s family claimed they had received calls demanding 20 million rupees for his release.
Saeed Buzdar, a journalist from Balochistan, told TBP that the callers were believed by the family to be linked to a group allegedly associated with pro-government militias, locally referred to as “death squads”.
Relatives of the deceased further alleged that Imran had previously been detained by Pakistani forces and associated militia groups and had been subjected to torture before his release. No official response regarding those allegations was immediately available.
The circumstances surrounding the recent abductions in Kech remain unclear, and authorities have yet to issue detailed statements regarding the incidents.