Have Pakistani Forces Disappeared Three Civilians in Balochistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Three Baloch civilians have been forcibly taken by Pakistani forces.
- Human rights organizations are calling for accountability.
- This incident highlights the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
- The victims' families are left in anguish, unaware of their loved ones' whereabouts.
- There is a systematic targeting of Baloch civilians under the guise of state security.
Quetta, Oct 15 (NationPress) Numerous human rights organizations expressed serious alarm on Wednesday following the forcible disappearance of three Baloch civilians by Pakistani forces in the region of Balochistan.
This occurrence highlights the persistent cycle of oppression amidst a growing surge of enforced disappearances throughout the province.
The Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department (Paank) reported that on September 30, personnel from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) abducted two individuals from the Zehri Bhapaw locality in Khuzdar district.
The individuals, identified as Haq Nawaz, a 22-year-old driver, and Hidayatullah, a 33-year-old farmer, were seized from their hometown, with their current locations remaining unknown.
Moreover, another resident, Mohammad Ismail Zehri, a shopkeeper from Kahn in the Zehri region, was taken into unlawful custody by Pakistani forces on October 12, and his whereabouts are also undisclosed.
“The act of enforced disappearances is a grave violation of human rights and constitutes a crime under international law,” stated Paank.
Another organization, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), condemned the abuses against Baloch civilians and called on the Pakistani authorities to promptly disclose the status and locations of the missing individuals and ensure their safe and unconditional release.
The BVJ demanded the urgent recovery of Haq Nawaz, Hidayatullah, and Ismail Zehri, denouncing the ongoing Pakistani repression and enforced disappearances in the Zehri area.
Earlier on Tuesday, the BVJ noted that on October 11, two students, Farhan, aged 20, and Irfan, aged 22, were forcibly taken by Pakistani security forces.
Farhan was abducted from Kalm Chowk, while Irfan was taken from another location within the Chitkan region in Panjgur district. The rights organization indicated that both students are still missing, leaving their families unaware of their situation.
The BVJ remarked that these disappearances are indicative of a troubling and systematic trend of targeting Baloch students, activists, and civilians under the pretext of “state security”.
“The ongoing enforcement of disappearances breaches various provisions of international law, including the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” the rights group asserted.
“The arbitrary detention and secret imprisonment of students aim to silence educated Baloch youth and stifle voices advocating for justice and equality. Such measures erode public trust, shatter families, and foster fear throughout Balochistan,” it concluded.