A human rights organization has reported the tragic deaths of two more Baloch civilians attributed to Pakistani forces in the restive Balochistan province. This latest event underscores a worrying escalation in alleged human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and torture, which have plagued the region.
According to Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, the violence is part of a sustained campaign against the Baloch people. On October 29, Hamza Baloch, a worker from Khuzdar, was allegedly taken by a Pakistan-backed militia and delivered to the Pakistani military. After five days in alleged illegal custody, his bullet-ridden corpse was found on Monday in Awaran district.
Further compounding the grim situation, Bahad Baloch, a resident of Kech district, was reportedly killed by Pakistan-backed death squads. His body surfaced on November 1 and was moved to Turbat Civil Hospital. Eyewitness accounts suggest that after robbing him, the attackers murdered him and attempted to disguise his death as a suicide by placing a rope around his neck before abandoning the body. Paank has voiced strong condemnation, demanding justice for the victims and urging global leaders to reconsider financial aid to Pakistan, citing its alleged use in fueling conflict and abuses.
In another disturbing development, Asif Hasil, a fisherman from Gwadar, has been subjected to enforced disappearance. He was allegedly apprehended by CTD and intelligence personnel at a Pasni check-post on Monday evening, following a late-night raid on his home that resulted in the seizure of all family mobile phones. The organization stresses the severe psychological impact of these enforced detentions on the Baloch community and calls for immediate international action to address Pakistan’s ongoing human rights transgressions.