Balochistan: Pakistani Forces Abduct Young Lawyer from Quetta
SHAAL (QUETTA): A young Baloch lawyer, Advocate Hakeem Baloch, has been forcibly disappeared from his home on Barwary Road in Quetta.
According to his family and local witnesses, the incident took place late on the night of July 23, when unidentified men in uniform raided the house without a warrant and took Hakeem away.
“We were awakened by loud knocks and shouts. They came in, searched the house without any legal documents, and forcibly took Hakeem without offering a word of explanation,” a family member said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to concerns for their safety.
Hakeem Baloch, an LLB graduate from Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), had been practicing law in Quetta and was known for his growing engagement in legal advocacy and human rights work.
The abduction has drawn condemnation from fellow legal professionals and activists.
Advocate Saheela Baloch denounced the incident in strong terms: “I unequivocally and strongly condemn the illegal and inhumane abduction of Advocate Hakeem Baloch by personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and intelligence agencies,” she said in a statement. “This brazen act of state-sponsored lawlessness, carried out in front of his family, is a direct assault on the legal profession, human rights, and the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.”
She added that the targeting of lawyers—especially those representing marginalised communities—was a deliberate tactic meant to instil fear and suppress dissent. “We will not remain silent. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Advocate Hakeem Baloch. The perpetrators of this gross abuse of power must be held accountable.”
Enforced disappearances have long been a deeply rooted and controversial issue in Balochistan, where human rights organizations have repeatedly documented the abduction of students, activists, journalists, and professionals by state agencies. The disappearances are often carried out without due process, leaving families in limbo for months or even years.
The latest cases add to the mounting concerns over the erosion of constitutional rights and legal protections in the Balochistan. Despite repeated calls for transparency and accountability, official investigations into such disappearances rarely yield meaningful results, and impunity continues to thrive.
As of now, no state institution has claimed custody or issued a statement regarding Hakeem Baloch’s whereabouts. His family, along with a growing number of legal professionals and rights advocates, have demanded urgent action and accountability.
“This is not just about one lawyer,” a Quetta Bar Association member remarked. “This is about the future of justice in Balochistan. If lawyers can be picked up without cause or record, what protection is left for the common citizen?”
