Human Rights Violations in Balochistan: BYC Highlights Forced Disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings

QUETTA: In a press conference on Wednesday, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) raised alarms about a sharp increase in human rights violations in Balochistan, calling on journalists, human rights organisations and International Community to help expose the atrocities and take action to end the ongoing crisis.

The conference, led by prominent human rights activists, focused primarily on the ongoing issues of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, violations that have become regular occurrences. The press conference began with a sombre reminder of the dire situation facing Baloch civilians, particularly women, who have been subjected to violence and abduction by state-backed forces.

A report presented by the Committee revealed that in January 2025 alone, at least 88 cases of forced disappearances were recorded across various regions of Balochistan. However, the actual number is feared to be much higher due to the fear and intimidation that prevent many people from coming forward.

The Makran region, the report noted, was the hardest-hit, with 43 people forcibly abducted in just one month. Among those reported missing are several well-known individuals, including activists and students.

The BYC condemned the ongoing campaign of violence, calling the abductions and killings a deliberate attempt by state institutions to suppress Baloch voices. “The situation is dire. What we are witnessing is not just an abuse of power, but a systematic campaign against the very identity and future of the Baloch people,” the Committee stated.

The press conference also addressed the alarming rise in “targeted killings,” which the Committee describes as state-sponsored extrajudicial executions. The most recent victim of this violence was Allahdad Baloch, an M.Phil scholar who was killed in Turbat. Other victims include Baloch youth, poets, students, and intellectuals.

According to the report, several killings have taken place over the past few months. Among these are the murder of Zakarya Baloch in Gwadar, the killing of a 15-year-old child by FC forces in Zheri, and the horrific murder of Manzoor Afzal Baloch, whose body was blown up with a bomb by military forces. These killings, activists say, are part of a broader policy aimed at silencing any form of dissent in the region.

The press conference also highlighted the increasingly dangerous situation in Balochistan’s education sector, where both teachers and students are facing threats and violence from state forces. Sharif Zakir, a Baloch educator, was recently targeted when a grenade was thrown at his home.

This attack was followed by the abduction of his young son and a relative, marking a disturbing pattern of violence aimed at preventing Baloch citizens from seeking knowledge and educating future generations. On February 11, he was attacked again when motorcyclists fired at him, injuring him as bullets struck his legs.

The activists also shared the heartbreaking case of Hayat Sabzal, a 16-year-old who was abducted by military forces in July 2024 and whose body was discovered on February 11, 2025, after he had been extrajudicially executed. The discovery of his mutilated body near the Panjgur Grid Station deepened the sense of fear in the region and underscored the growing tension and the state’s involvement in such crimes.

In their closing remarks, the BYC called for international intervention, urging human rights organizations, journalists, and global institutions to step up and help put an end to the cycle of violence. “We cannot remain silent any longer,” the spokesperson said. “We must take action now to prevent further atrocities.”

The Committee’s message was clear: the struggle for justice and the survival of Baloch culture and identity will continue, with political and social resistance against the state’s genocidal policies in Balochistan growing stronger by the day.

The press conference ended with an appeal to the international community to raise their voices against the ongoing violations in Balochistan and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.