At least nine civilians, including a 15-year-old tailor, two labourers, and a university student, have been reported missing after Pakistani security forces detained them in separate incidents across Balochistan province, according to local media reports. The cases, spread across Panjgur, Sariab, and Chagai districts, emerged between 6 June and 20 June 2025.

The Panjgur Cases

Six of the nine disappearances were reported from Panjgur district. According to local sources, Saadullah was forcibly taken by Pakistani forces from a shop in Kohda Hakim Bazaar in Parom on 15 June. Three men — Aziz, Sadiq, and Latif — were taken from their homes in Parom on 20 June, reportedly by security personnel.

Zahid, a university student from Parom, was detained from university premises in Panjgur city on 10 June. No information regarding the whereabouts of any of the six men has since emerged, according to local sources.

Other Districts: Sariab and Chagai

Adil Baloch, 21, a labourer, was detained by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel from the Sariab area on 6 June, according to his family. He has remained missing since. Sher Zaman Baloch, aged 15, was taken from his tailoring workshop in the Killi Almas area on 17 June; his family said they have received no information about his whereabouts. Separately, Obaid Baloch, 18, has remained missing after being taken into custody from Dalbandin in Chagai district on 14 June.

Notably, two men from Keech who had been missing since November 2024 were released from Karachi's Mauripur area on 17 June, offering a rare instance of individuals reappearing after prolonged disappearance.

Broader Pattern: HRCB Documents 124 Disappearances in April

The latest cases come amid a documented surge in enforced disappearances and killings across the province. On 1 June, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) released a report recording 53 killings and 124 enforced disappearances in April 2025 alone.

The 53 killings included 44 men and 9 women, with the identities of 7 victims unverified. According to the HRCB report, targeted killings were the most frequently recorded category at 16 cases, followed by bombardment and shelling (12 cases) and custodial killings (11 cases). Honour killings accounted for 7 cases, while fake encounters and firing incidents made up 4 and 3 cases respectively.

Of the 124 enforced disappearances, 8 were women and 5 were teenagers. The HRCB noted that house raids accounted for the overwhelming majority — 98 out of 124 cases — followed by detentions (16 cases) and road interceptions (8 cases). Summonses to camps were recorded in 2 cases. The organisation noted that while a limited number of victims were later released, most remain unaccounted for.

A Deepening Crisis

Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been a persistent and deeply contested issue, with Pakistani authorities historically denying systematic targeting while human rights bodies continue to document fresh cases. The pattern identified by the HRCB — a heavy reliance on home-based raids — points to an operational method that critics argue bypasses due process entirely. With the latest nine cases adding to an already lengthy list, pressure on international human rights bodies to respond is likely to grow.