At least three Baloch students were allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistani forces in Karachi on 23 August 2025, according to a leading human rights organisation. The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) raised the alarm on Tuesday, identifying the victims as Abdul Qadeer, Zubair Ahmed, and Saif Uddin — all residents of Balochistan.

What Happened

According to the BVJ, the three students were picked up in what the organisation described as enforced disappearances carried out by Pakistani security forces. The rights body stated: 'The enforced disappearance of students is an attack on the future of the Baloch nation. Targeting young people seeking education is a grave violation of fundamental human rights and international law.'

Pattern of Alleged Crackdowns in Karachi

This incident is not isolated. Last week, several human rights organisations condemned what they described as raids, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances allegedly carried out by Pakistani forces targeting Baloch neighbourhoods across Karachi. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) alleged that these military operations were aimed at erasing Baloch identity. 'Frightened by the rising Baloch consciousness and political awakening, the state is once again perpetuating its Baloch genocidal policies in the streets of Karachi,' the BYC stated. The committee further alleged that past operations conducted under the pretext of gang wars and peace maintenance are now being replicated 'through different names and new tactics.'

FIR Against Balochistan Assembly Member

In a separate but related development, the BVJ on Tuesday condemned the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch, a sitting member of the Balochistan Assembly and an elected representative from Gwadar district. According to the rights body, the case was filed after the parliamentarian publicly raised concerns — through a video — about the alleged humiliation, stripping, and violation of the sanctity of women at a military checkpoint. 'Instead of impartial investigations into such grave allegations and legal action against the responsible officials, filing a case against the public representative who raised the complaint casts a grave question mark over the fundamental principles of justice, freedom of expression, and democratic representation,' the BVJ stated.

Accountability Under Question

The BVJ argued that the FIR reinforces a broader pattern in which accountability is directed not at powerful institutions but at those who challenge them. The rights body stated that 'civilian governance in Balochistan has been supplanted by military dominance, where accountability is directed not toward powerful institutions but twisted toward those who raise their voices against them.' These latest developments come amid sustained international scrutiny over the treatment of Baloch communities in Pakistan. Human rights groups have repeatedly called on Islamabad to investigate disappearances and ensure due process — calls that Pakistani authorities have largely not addressed publicly. How Islamabad responds to mounting pressure from rights organisations will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.