QUETTA, Pakistan – Human rights groups in Balochistan have leveled serious allegations against Pakistani security forces, claiming they forcibly disappeared at least five civilians in recent days. The province, long a hotspot for unrest, continues to witness a surge in enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings, according to reports from local activists.
The Baloch National Movement’s human rights wing, Paank, detailed the abduction of 33-year-old laborer Ghulam Sarwar on February 21 from the Abdullah Bijarani Goth area in Hub district. Witnesses reported that Pakistani army personnel and military intelligence agencies picked him up without any legal justification. In a similar incident, 24-year-old student Amir Baloch vanished after being detained on February 19 in the Killi Kasum Khan area of Chagai district.
Paank further revealed that on February 18, security forces raided a home in the Kuhado Jahu area of Awaran district, abducting two brothers, Sadullah and Lal Jan. These cases highlight a disturbing pattern targeting ordinary Baloch citizens, fueling widespread anger and calls for accountability.
Another organization, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), reported the disappearance of Daniyal Nasir, a graduate from the Governance and Public Policy department at the National University of Modern Languages in Karachi. Nasir was allegedly taken on February 16, with BVJ condemning the targeting of educated Baloch youth as a blatant violation of their rights.
‘Forced disappearances are a grave assault on law and human dignity,’ BVJ stated, demanding immediate release of the victims and answers for their families. The group emphasized that such practices undermine trust in state institutions and perpetuate cycles of violence.
Tragedy compounded in the region when Pakistani forces opened fire on a vehicle near Ful Abad area, killing two women and injuring three others, local media reported. Eyewitnesses said the vehicle carried Afghan nationals attempting to cross into Iran. Several others at the scene were detained, adding to the climate of fear.
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, but human rights advocates warn that these incidents – from abductions to shootings – are part of a broader strategy of suppression in Balochistan. As families plead for justice, the international community watches closely, urging Pakistan to address these allegations transparently.