What Happened to the Two Baloch Scholars in Balochistan?
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Synopsis
Two Baloch scholars have gone missing after being taken by the Counter Terrorism Department in Pakistan. This troubling incident highlights the ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Human rights organizations are demanding accountability and the immediate release of the scholars. Join us as we explore this urgent issue.
Key Takeaways
- Two Baloch scholars have been forcibly disappeared by the CTD.
- Human rights organizations are demanding accountability.
- Enforced disappearance is a serious violation of fundamental rights.
- Protests are ongoing in Karachi for the release of Zahid Ali.
- Baloch activists are at risk of extrajudicial killings.
Quetta, Aug 15 (NationPress) Numerous Baloch human rights organizations expressed alarm on Thursday as two Baloch scholars were subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), amidst a troubling trend of such incidents in the province.
The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) reported that Usman Qazi, a PhD holder and Assistant Professor at BUITEMS University, along with his younger brother Jibran Ahmed, an MPhil Economics student, were apprehended by CTD agents during a raid at their residence in Afnan town, Quetta, in the early hours of August 12. Since that moment, their current location remains a mystery.
BVJ highlighted that enforced disappearance is a violation of international law and infringes on essential human rights, such as the rights to liberty, personal security, and freedom from torture or mistreatment.
Condemning this act, Paank, the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement, deemed the abduction of an academic and his scholar brother as “profoundly concerning” and “completely intolerable.”
The rights organizations called for the immediate disclosure of the fate and location of Qazi and Jibran, urging accountability for this serious infraction by Pakistani authorities.
They also demanded the safety and unconditional release of both Baloch youths.
In a related issue, the organizations raised alarms over the detention of Shabar Jamaldini, a peaceful Baloch political activist, currently held at a police station in Peterborough, UK. They stressed that he could face life-threatening risks if sent back to Pakistan, where activists frequently endure enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial executions.
“Baloch activists are in severe jeopardy in Pakistan—abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings are rampant. In the initial six months of 2025, Paank recorded a staggering 785 enforced disappearances and 121 killings. Returning Shabar would place him directly in the hands of those complicit in these violations, endangering his life and silencing his voice,” stated Paank.
The BVJ urged UK authorities to halt any deportation or transfer, grant a temporary stay for a new asylum application, ensure access to legal representation, and called upon international human rights organizations for immediate intervention.
Additionally, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported that for the tenth consecutive day, a Baloch family has set up a protest camp outside the Karachi Press Club to demand justice for their son’s enforced disappearance by Pakistani forces.
Zahid Ali, a 25-year-old International Relations student at the University of Karachi, was forcibly taken by Pakistani forces on July 17, alongside his rickshaw, which he used for part-time work to support his family.
“Led by his ailing father, Abdul Hameed, who suffers from hepatitis, the family has endured extreme heat and fatigue, remaining resolute in their stand until Zahid is safely returned. It has now been 29 days since Zahid’s enforced disappearance, and authorities have not revealed his location, turning his case into yet another instance of Pakistan's systematic approach to enforced disappearances targeting Baloch youth,” the BYC remarked.
The rights group encouraged students, activists, journalists, and citizens of Karachi to visit the camp, stand in solidarity with the family, and amplify the call for Zahid’s immediate release.
Point of View
It is imperative to uphold a commitment to journalistic integrity and truth. The ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan must be addressed with urgency. The voices of the oppressed deserve to be heard, and it is our duty to shed light on these grave injustices.
NationPress
20/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is enforced disappearance?
Enforced disappearance is a human rights violation where individuals are taken by state authorities or other groups and their whereabouts are concealed, often leading to torture or extrajudicial killings.
Who are the scholars that disappeared?
The scholars are Usman Qazi, a PhD holder and Assistant Professor, and his brother Jibran Ahmed, an MPhil Economics student, both taken by the Counter Terrorism Department in Quetta.
What do human rights organizations say?
Human rights organizations like Baloch Voice for Justice and Paank have condemned the disappearances and called for accountability and the immediate release of the scholars.
What risks do Baloch activists face?
Baloch activists face significant risks including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial killings, especially if they return to Pakistan.
What actions are being taken to support the families?
Protests and awareness campaigns are being organized by various human rights groups to support the families of the disappeared and demand justice.
