NDP Leader Ghani Baloch Forcibly Disappeared Near Khuzdar, Party Demands Immediate Release

SHAAL (QUETTA): The National Democratic Party (NDP) has strongly condemned the enforced disappearance of one of its central leaders, Ghani Baloch, who was abducted on the night of May 25 while travelling from Quetta to Karachi.

According to a statement released by the party’s central spokesperson, Ghani Baloch, an MPhil scholar, academic researcher, writer, and owner of Zawar Publishers, was intercepted near the city of Khuzdar. A large contingent of law enforcement personnel from the Frontier Corps, along with individuals in plain clothes, had set up a checkpoint on the RCD Highway, halting and searching all passenger vehicles.

During this operation, Baloch, who was travelling in a private company’s vehicle, was reportedly taken out and transferred to an undisclosed location. His current whereabouts remain unknown, and no information has been provided to his family, friends, or party officials, sparking grave concern over his safety and well-being.

Ghani Baloch is an MPhil scholar in the Brahui language at the University of Balochistan, actively working on his thesis. In addition to his academic contributions, he has been recognised as a politically conscious figure and a responsible voice in the region. He previously served as the General Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC).

The NDP labelled the abduction as a serious violation of both the Constitution of Pakistan and international human rights norms, including the UN Charter of Human Rights. The party warned that targeting intellectuals, scholars, and political figures under such circumstances would further destabilise the already fragile situation in Balochistan.

“This is not just a violation of individual rights; it’s an attack on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and political activism,” the NDP spokesperson stated. “Ghani Baloch represents a voice of reason, knowledge, and resistance. His disappearance sends a chilling message to all who stand for truth and justice in Balochistan.”

The NDP has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ghani Baloch and urged national and international human rights organisations, bar associations, journalist communities, civil society groups, and political activists to raise their voices against enforced disappearances.