Balochistan: Prominent Brahui Poet and Scholar Killed in Death Squad Attack
NUSHKI, BALOCHISTAN: Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat, a renowned poet, writer, and intellectual in the Brahui language, was shot dead near his home in the Kalli Mangal area of Nushki. Local reports suggest the attack was carried out by armed assailants linked to government-supported death squads.
Professor Hayat, a respected assistant professor at Government Boys Degree College, Nushki, authored approximately twenty books spanning poetry, fiction, essays, and translation. He was also a founder of the Raaskoh Adabi Diwan and the Otan Culture Academy, institutions dedicated to preserving and promoting Brahui literature and culture.
The killing comes shortly after Balochistan’s military-backed Chief Minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, declared on the provincial assembly floor that Balochi poetry is playing a significant role in promoting the Baloch liberation struggle. Many activists and writers have described such statements as a direct threat to those who write Balochi and Brahui poetry or raise cultural awareness in Balochistan.
Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a senior leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, condemned the killing as part of a “systematic campaign to silence Baloch intellectuals, educators, and writers.” She emphasised that Brahui—a language previously listed by UNESCO as endangered—has survived due to the dedication of writers like Professor Hayat. “Targeting educators and writers is not just the elimination of individuals; it is an attack on knowledge, culture, and the intellectual heritage of the Baloch people,” she said.
Dr. Baloch added that the killing reflects a decades-long policy of intimidation and extrajudicial violence in Balochistan, targeting students, journalists, political activists and teachers. “While Professor Hayat’s voice has been silenced, his writings and contributions to Brahui literature will continue to inspire future generations,” she said.
His funeral took place at Kalli Mangal cemetery, attended by tribal elders, political representatives, teachers, students, and local officials. Observers and human rights advocates have called for an immediate and transparent investigation and urged that those responsible be held accountable.
Human rights groups say the attack underscores the ongoing risks faced by educators and cultural figures in Balochistan, highlighting broader concerns over freedom of expression, cultural preservation, and the safety of intellectuals in the region.
Professor Hayat’s death is widely regarded as a major loss to Brahui literature and the intellectual community in Balochistan, illustrating the persistent challenges of protecting cultural and academic freedoms in areas affected by political tensions and violence.
Earlier on 14 May, in Mastung District, reports emerged of the disappearances of four senior University of Gwadar officials, including Vice Chancellor Professor Abdul Razzaq Sabir, Pro-Vice Chancellor Syed Manzoor Ahmed, lecturer Shakeel Ahmed and their driver.
Armed assailants reportedly blocked the road in the Khaddkocha area, stopped the vehicle, and took the victims to an unknown location.
