10 people forcibly disappeared in Karachi's Maripur over one week
Synopsis
At least 10 people, including a 17-year-old student and a relative of a Baloch activist leader, have allegedly been forcibly disappeared in Karachi and Quetta within weeks — with rights group Paank pointing to Rangers, ISI, CTD, and Military Intelligence. The pattern, documented across Baloch-majority areas, has prompted urgent calls to the UN to intervene.
Key Takeaways
At least 10 people were allegedly forcibly disappeared from Maripur, Karachi over a single week, according to local media reports.
Khalid Baloch , brother of former BSAC chairman Shabbir Baloch , was among those reportedly disappeared.
17-year-old Asfand Baloch was allegedly abducted on 4 August from Quetta by ISI , CTD , and Military Intelligence personnel.
27-year-old student Wajid Baloch was reportedly abducted on 10 August from Qambrani Road, Quetta by CTD personnel.
Rights body Paank has urged the United Nations and international organisations to press Pakistan to end enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
Locals allege operations have been ongoing for over a month across Baloch-majority areas of Karachi, including nighttime cordoning and searches.
At least 10 people have allegedly been subjected to enforced disappearances in Maripur, Karachi, Pakistan, over the span of a single week, according to local media reports citing sources. The incidents, which include the reported abduction of a minor and a student in Quetta, have drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organisations.
Who Was Disappeared in Karachi
According to online news network The Balochistan Post, Khalid Baloch — brother of former Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) chairman Shabbir Baloch — was among those allegedly disappeared from Maripur. Nine others — identified as Sooraj, Shahbaz, Sakhi, Aamir, Sameer, Allah Bakhsh, Aamir Wahid, Aziz Noor Dad, and Sabir Aziz — were reportedly detained in separate operations over the same period.
Local residents, according to the report, stated that operations have been ongoing for at least a month across several Baloch-majority areas of Karachi. They alleged that Rangers and intelligence personnel have been conducting nighttime operations, including cordoning off neighbourhoods, conducting searches, and making detentions.
Quetta Cases: A Minor and a Student Among the Disappeared
Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, reported on Sunday that 27-year-old student Wajid Baloch was abducted in the early hours of 10 August from Qambrani Road in Quetta, allegedly by personnel of Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
In a separate case, 17-year-old student Asfand Baloch was reportedly abducted on 4 August from Killi Almas Airport Road, Quetta, allegedly by personnel of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the CTD, and Military Intelligence. Paank described the disappearance of a minor as 'particularly alarming' and said it raises 'serious concerns regarding his safety and well-being.'
Additionally, 40-year-old Asif Ali was reportedly disappeared from his home in Quetta on 1 August, allegedly by ISI and CTD personnel. His whereabouts and condition remain unknown, according to Paank.
Rights Body Calls for International Intervention
Paank condemned the incidents, stating: 'The continued practice of enforced disappearances, including the targeting of students and civilians, constitutes a grave violation of fundamental human rights and perpetuates fear and suffering among families across Balochistan.'
The organisation called on Pakistani authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Asif Ali, Asfand Baloch, and Wajid Baloch, ensure their safety, and release them without delay. It also urged the United Nations, international human rights organisations, and the broader international community to press Pakistan to end enforced disappearances, reveal the fate of all disappeared persons, and ensure accountability for victims and their families.
A Wider Pattern in Balochistan
This is not an isolated cluster of incidents. Enforced disappearances in Balochistan and Karachi's Baloch-majority areas have been documented by rights groups for years, with families frequently reporting that state agencies conduct operations without formal arrest warrants or subsequent legal proceedings. The targeting of students and relatives of activists — as in the case of Khalid Baloch — suggests a pattern that rights groups argue is designed to suppress political dissent. Pakistani authorities have not publicly commented on these specific cases, according to available reports.
With international pressure mounting and local human rights bodies issuing urgent appeals, the coming days will test whether Pakistani authorities provide any accounting for those reportedly disappeared.
Point of View
Students picked up without formal charges, and operations conducted under cover of night with no subsequent legal accounting. What is notable here is the scale — 10 people in a single week in one locality — and the involvement of a minor, which elevates the human rights stakes considerably. Pakistani authorities' silence on these specific cases is itself a data point. International pressure has historically produced little accountability; the question is whether the UN appeal by Paank gains traction or joins a long queue of unacknowledged complaints.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the people reportedly disappeared in Karachi's Maripur?
According to The Balochistan Post, at least 10 people were allegedly disappeared from Maripur, Karachi over one week. They include Khalid Baloch — brother of former BSAC chairman Shabbir Baloch — and nine others identified as Sooraj, Shahbaz, Sakhi, Aamir, Sameer, Allah Bakhsh, Aamir Wahid, Aziz Noor Dad, and Sabir Aziz.
Who is Asfand Baloch and why is his case significant?
Asfand Baloch is a 17-year-old student reportedly abducted on 4 August from Killi Almas Airport Road in Quetta, allegedly by ISI, CTD, and Military Intelligence personnel. Rights group Paank described his disappearance as 'particularly alarming' because he is a minor, raising serious concerns about his safety.
What is Paank and what has it demanded?
Paank is the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement. It has demanded that Pakistani authorities immediately disclose the whereabouts of Asif Ali, Asfand Baloch, and Wajid Baloch, ensure their safety, and release them. It has also called on the United Nations and international rights bodies to press Pakistan to end enforced disappearances.
Are enforced disappearances in Balochistan a new development?
No. Enforced disappearances in Balochistan and Karachi's Baloch-majority areas have been documented by human rights organisations for years. Rights groups allege that state agencies routinely conduct operations without formal arrest warrants or subsequent legal proceedings, particularly targeting activists and their relatives.
What role do Rangers and intelligence agencies allegedly play?
According to local residents cited by The Balochistan Post, Rangers and intelligence personnel have allegedly been conducting nighttime operations in Baloch-majority areas of Karachi for over a month, including cordoning off localities, conducting searches, and making detentions. Pakistani authorities have not publicly commented on these specific allegations.
