Is Another Baloch Civilian Disappeared by Pakistani Forces?
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Key Takeaways
Quetta, Dec 9 (NationPress) A Baloch civilian has been forcibly taken by Pakistani forces amidst an alarming rise in enforced disappearances within the province, according to a prominent human rights organization.
This recent incident occurs in the context of ongoing persecution characterized by a notable increase in enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture across the region.
On December 7, Rustam Khan, a resident of Killi Qambrani in Quetta, was forcibly abducted from his home by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
In an alarming report, the Paank department of the Baloch National Movement disclosed on Monday that at least three Baloch civilians, including two students, have become victims of enforced disappearance, all hailing from Killi Suhrab Khan Qambrani in Quetta.
On December 5, Hammal Qambrani, a student, was also forcibly disappeared from the Dasht area in the Mastung district by the CTD.
The following day, two more individuals, Bebarg Qambrani, a driver, and Hairbyar Baloch, another student, faced similar fates at the hands of the CTD.
The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has condemned these disappearances as a systematic policy of genocide, asserting that the Pakistani army's operations, dubbed Operation Silence, have morphed into rampant state terrorism.
“No one is safe. Educated Baloch individuals, especially professors and students, have become primary targets. In Balochistan, any affiliation with Baloch culture, language, or identity is seen by the state as an 'anti-Pakistan' sentiment, punishable by enforced disappearance or extrajudicial execution,” the BNM remarked.
The organization raised alarms about the deteriorating situation, stating, “These cases illustrate just a fraction of the human rights crisis in Balochistan. Thousands remain unaccounted for. Daily, more individuals are abducted and subjected to torture by the Pakistan Army without any legal recourse or judicial oversight. Extrajudicial killings have become commonplace.”
The BNM urged international human rights organizations to take decisive actions against the violations perpetrated by the Pakistani state and demand accountability at global forums.