Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances Surge in Balochistan as Pakistani Forces Target Civilians, Students, and Artists
Human rights organisations have documented a disturbing wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan carried out by Pakistani forces. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported that the body of 47-year-old shepherd Zulfaqar was recovered in the Paroom region of Panjgur district on April 16, nearly two months after he was allegedly forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces, while 38-year-old shepherd Shahram was killed on the same day in what was presented as an encounter, despite having been forcibly disappeared from the Nehing Zamuran region since February 21. The BYC condemned these killings as part of a continuing pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, warning that they raise serious concerns of crimes against humanity, and called upon the United Nations, international human rights organisations, and the global community to take effective measures to ensure justice and protection for affected families.
In a separate series of incidents, rights body Paank revealed that four youths – including 19-year-old fisherman Sohail Kareem, 20-year-old student Nadil Baloch, 14-year-old student Dilshad Dad, and Ali Fazal – were forcibly disappeared during a raid on their homes in Gwadar’s Panwan area by Pakistani security forces. Additionally, 27-year-old student Ikram was disappeared from Kech district on April 18 by Pakistan’s Frontier Corps, and young singer Muhammad Taj was abducted from his home in Kech’s Shapak region on April 17, with his whereabouts remaining unknown. Paank expressed grave concern over the persistent targeting of students and cultural figures, stating that the abduction of an artist dedicated to promoting Balochi language and culture underscores the dangerously shrinking space for cultural and artistic expression in the region.