Balochistan– Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism of Pakistan’s ongoing military crackdown in Balochistan, denouncing violent attacks on civilians, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings as evidence of deepening lawlessness in the province.
Local political leaders and rights activists have long decried Pakistan’s treatment of the Baloch population, with several prominent voices—including activist Mahrang Baloch—detained and reportedly tortured by authorities.
Paank, the human rights arm of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), issued a scathing statement condemning recent incidents in the towns of Tump, Kech, and Chitkan (Panjgur district), where armed men allegedly launched attacks on homes and attempted abductions. According to the group, local police refused to register First Information Reports (FIRs) despite formal complaints by victims’ families.
“Between June 13 and 16, armed men attacked homes in Tump, Kech, and Chitkan. In Tump, hand grenades were used to target the homes of Shafiq and Mohammad Hayat, injuring a woman and damaging property,” the group said. “In Panjgur, Nisar Ahmed was beaten during an attempted abduction. Authorities declined to file a police report.”
Paank also reported the enforced disappearance of Sohail Ahmed, son of Zaheer Ahmed, allegedly abducted by Pakistani security forces on June 12 in Kharan. “This act of enforced disappearance is a serious violation of both human rights and international law,” the organization stated.
In another alarming incident, Paank reported that Salam Haider, a resident of Gwadar originally from Dasht, Kech, was killed extrajudicially. His body was handed over to his family under strict conditions, barring them from viewing the remains or performing customary last rites. The family suspects he was tortured.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) raised serious concerns about the increasing number of student abductions in the region. In a statement, BVJ highlighted the case of Nasir Qambrani, a student who was forcibly disappeared in Quetta on March 17. His whereabouts remain unknown more than 90 days later.
“Targeting students based on their identity or peaceful expression not only violates individual freedoms but threatens the academic and intellectual progress of the entire nation,” BVJ said, referencing Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the right to education.
BVJ called on global watchdogs—such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UNESCO—to intervene and hold the Pakistani state accountable. “Educational institutions must be places of learning and dialogue—not fear and suppression,” the group added.
The deepening crisis in Balochistan has prompted growing international concern. Despite Islamabad’s repeated denials, human rights groups and political activists continue to point to a systemic campaign aimed at silencing dissent and crushing the Baloch movement. (Source: IANS)
