Balochistan: Young Man Dies from Injuries After Being Shot by State-Backed Armed Group

SHAAL (QUETTA): A young man, who was critically injured in a shooting by a state-supported armed group, has passed away after four days of treatment.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Hashim, son of Abdul Qadir, from the village of Buleda Alandur in Balochistan’s Kech district, succumbed to his wounds today after being transferred to Karachi for further medical care.

According to local sources, Hashim was shot by an armed group, known as the “Death Squad,” which operates under the patronage of Pakistani security forces. The incident occurred four days ago, when Hashim was targeted in a shooting attack that left him severely injured. After being initially treated in a local hospital, he was transferred to Karachi, where his condition deteriorated, and he ultimately passed away.

The “Death Squad,” as it is commonly referred to in the region, has become notorious for its violent actions. Local residents have reported that the group has been systematically targeting civilians, particularly political and social activists, across various areas of Balochistan.

Just days before Hashim’s death, on September 28, two people were injured in a similar attack by members of the Death Squad in the Prom area of Panjgur.

Additionally, this month alone, four young people were shot and killed in separate incidents in the Tump and Mand areas of Kech.

Human rights organisations, political groups and social activists in Balochistan have condemned the actions of the Death Squad. They have accused the Pakistani state of supporting these armed groups and in response, they have called for an immediate end to such activities.

The groups argue that these attacks are part of a wider pattern of repression targeting those critical of state policies, especially in Balochistan, where local political unrest has been ongoing for years.

In light of these recent developments, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and local civil society organisations have been urging Pakistan take immediate action to disband these armed groups and hold accountable those responsible for the violence.