Balochistan: Pakistani Forces Continue Enforced Disappearances Unabated

QUETTA: The families of several individuals forcibly disappeared in Balochistan have urgently appealed for the safe return of their loved ones as reports of abductions by Pakistani security forces continue to surface.

On December 12, Pakistani security forces forcibly disappeared Shah Jan son of Barkat Ali, from the Sari Kehn area in Turbat, Balochistan.

 According to his family, around 1 AM, a large contingent of security forces raided their home and took Shah Jan into custody.

Since his arrest, the family has had no information regarding his whereabouts. They have called for his immediate and safe release.

On December 11, Jamal Khan Mari, son of Meera Khan Marri, was abducted by security forces from the Karachi stop, Hazarganji, in Quetta.

The families of both Jamal Khan Mari and Sahil Ahmed son of Abdullah, who was forcibly disappeared by security forces from Beman, Turbat on October 10, have filed cases of abduction with the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP).

On December 10, three brothers—Ihsan Manzoor, Afzal Manzoor, and Hamid Manzoor—were forcibly disappeared by security forces from the Apsar area of Turbat.

The family confirmed that security forces surrounded their home late at night, arrested the three brothers, and took them away.

Despite efforts to obtain information, the family has not received any updates about their loved ones’ condition.

On December 9, in the Dasht area of Mastung district, Sami Kurd son of Dur Muhammad, and his cousin were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces.

The family confirmed that both men were taken into custody by the forces and have not been heard from since.

Meanwhile, the families of two young men, Abdul Sattar son of Khalid and Tariq son of Haji Hamza, who were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces on November 12, have appealed for their release.

The families explained that the two men were arrested while hunting for honey in the mountainous regions of Kech district.

The authorities initially confirmed the arrest to local residents but later denied any involvement in the incident.

Abdul Sattar, a student and photographer, and Tariq, who suffers from a physical disability, remain missing, with no further information about their condition or whereabouts.

The families of Abdul Sattar and Tariq have made an emotional appeal to human rights organizations, political groups, social media activists, and the public to help ensure the safe recovery of their loved ones and to exert pressure for their immediate release.

These cases are part of the continuing pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, with security forces routinely abducting individuals without accountability. Human rights organisations have long raised concerns about the systematic nature of these abductions, which have affected thousands of families in Balochistan.

The families of the missing individuals have knocked on all doors and gone from post to pillar in search of their loved ones but to no avail. They continue to call on both local authorities and international organisations to take action and bring an end to the practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.