Several prominent human rights organisations on Friday, 21 August condemned what they described as systematic persecution of Baloch communities in Karachi, citing military raids, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances allegedly carried out by Pakistani security forces. The condemnations came amid fresh reports of violence targeting Baloch civilians in both Karachi and Balochistan.

What the Rights Groups Alleged

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) alleged that ongoing military operations and raids in Baloch neighbourhoods across Karachi are designed to suppress Baloch political identity. In a statement, the BYC said: 'Frightened by the rising Baloch consciousness and political awakening, the state is once again perpetuating its Baloch genocidal policies in the streets of Karachi, attempting to bring Baloch communities under the shadow of fear, raids, arrests, and enforced disappearances.'

The BYC further alleged that the Pakistani state 'repeatedly recycles its colonial policies with new titles and methods, but the objective remains the same: to keep Baloch communities under pressure through fear.' These are among the most direct accusations levelled by a Baloch civil society body in recent months.

International Bodies Urged to Investigate

The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) expressed grave concern over the reported atrocities and formally called on Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and other international human rights bodies to urgently investigate and document the allegations, engage with affected families, and press Pakistan for accountability.

Notably, this appeal to multilateral bodies marks an escalation in the international advocacy strategy of Baloch rights groups, which have increasingly sought external scrutiny as domestic legal channels remain largely inaccessible to affected communities.

Teacher's Body Recovered in Panjgur

In a separate but related development, the BYC revealed that the body of Hatim Baloch, a 29-year-old government school teacher, was recovered in Panjgur district on 8 August, after he was allegedly forcibly disappeared by what the group described as 'Pakistan-backed death squads.' No official Pakistani government response to this specific allegation was available at the time of reporting.

The BYC stated: 'The killing of Hatim Baloch reflects the growing danger faced by Baloch across Balochistan, where death squads and security-linked forces operate with no accountability. Teachers, students, labourers, fishermen, and other ordinary civilians continue to face enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, while families are left with lifelong sorrow.'

Broader Pattern of Violence

Rights groups say the Panjgur killing is not an isolated incident. The BYC described it as 'another blow to a community already living through a worsening human rights crisis,' arguing that such killings 'deepen fear, destroy families, and reinforce a culture of impunity in Balochistan.' Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been documented by international human rights bodies for over two decades, with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances having repeatedly raised concerns with Islamabad.

The Pakistani government has historically denied systematic targeting of Baloch civilians, attributing security operations to counter-insurgency efforts against armed separatist groups. NationPress was unable to independently verify the specific allegations made by the BYC and BVJ.

What Rights Groups Are Demanding

Both the BYC and BVJ have called on the international community to urgently document these alleged violations and demand independent investigations. The BYC stated that the people of Balochistan could not continue to be left 'without protection, justice, or answers.' As international pressure mounts, whether global human rights institutions will formally engage with Pakistan over these latest allegations remains to be seen.