Islamabad, May 7: A prominent human rights organization reported on Thursday that the Pakistani army has forcibly disappeared five more civilians in Balochistan.
These recent incidents come amid a backdrop of increasing enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings across the province.
The Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) stated that two teachers, 45-year-old Abdul Hamid and 36-year-old Nasir Ali, were abducted on May 5 by personnel from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps in the Paroom area of the Panjgur district.
The organization expressed concern, stating, “Targeting teachers is extremely alarming and reflects the horrific nature of arbitrary arrests and human rights violations in Balochistan. The continuous disappearance of civilians, especially professionals serving their communities, instills fear and undermines the social fabric.”
The BNM also reported that another civilian, 27-year-old Altaf Hussain Baloch, was abducted on May 2 by personnel from Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Hub Chowki.
Condemning the incident, the human rights organization stated, “Such acts violate fundamental human rights and leave families in prolonged agony and uncertainty.”
In a separate incident on the same day, 40-year-old Jan Khan and his 20-year-old son Abdul Sattar were taken from their home in the provincial capital, Kech, by CTD personnel.
The BNM urged Pakistani authorities to immediately release the missing individuals or present them in court. They also called for an end to enforced disappearances and accountability for the perpetrators.
Violence against civilians in Balochistan continues to escalate. In this context, student protests outside Bolan Medical College (BMC) in the provincial capital, Kech, entered their 15th consecutive day on Wednesday, with demonstrators demanding the release of Khadija Baloch.
According to the Baloch Students Committee (BSC), Khadija was abducted by Pakistani security forces from the BMC women’s hostel in Kech on April 21 and taken to an undisclosed location.
Expressing concern over the inaction of Pakistani authorities, the BSC stated, “The protests have been ongoing for the past 15 days, but there has been no meaningful progress from the administration. This continued neglect has deepened the concerns of families and protesters.”
Balochistan is grappling with ongoing atrocities committed by the Pakistani army, including unprecedented levels of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
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