Balochistan: Pakistani forces abducted a Baloch woman in Quetta

QUETTA: The Pakistani security forces ransacked a house in Quetta and detained a Baloch woman along with her two children on 17 February 2023.

Eyewitnesses reported that the woman was brutally tortured on the spot in front of her children and her screams could be heard.

Initially, the security forces also arrested her children who were later released but their mother’s whereabouts and fate remain unknown at the time of filing this report.

The abducted woman has been named a Mahal Baloch originally from Turbat Balochistan who moved to Quetta due to ongoing military offensives in her hometown.

After the news of her arrest was made public, the CTD (Counter Terrorism Department) claimed to have arrested her near a public park in the Satellite Town area of Quetta. The CTD further claimed that the woman was carrying a suicide jacket and explosives.

The DTC alleged that she was affiliated with an armed  Baloch group.

The Baloch human rights and political activists have strongly condemned the arrest of a “second Baloch woman”.  They also rejected the CTD’s claims and said that she was arrested from her home during a raid.

Earlier this month, Rasheeda Zehri was arrested along with her husband Mohammad Rahim Zehri. Mrs. Zehri was later released amid continuous protests in different cities of Balochistan. Her husband’s whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

Meanwhile, Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, has said that the organization has received a complaint that Mahal Baloch forcibly disappeared by the forces from Satellite Town in Quetta last night, which is a cause for concern.

He strongly condemned her arrest and demanded the government take immediate notice of the enforced disappearance of the Baloch woman and ensure her safe recovery.

Nasrullah said that people of all schools of thought should raise their voices for the safe recovery of Baloch woman Mahal.

The  Baloch Women’s Forum has announced a protest rally in Quetta tomorrow against the incident.

It may be remembered that last year also a woman Noor Jahan was disappeared from Kech and faced similar charges.

However, her release was ordered by a court as the charges were not proven.