Pakistani Forces Accused of Killing and Abducting Civilians in Balochistan
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Quetta, March 17 (NationPress) As civilian violence escalates in Balochistan, prominent human rights organizations have revealed the extrajudicial execution of two individuals, the abduction of two more, and the release of another who had endured weeks of torture while in custody.
These troubling incidents occur amidst a surge in extrajudicial killings and disappearances across the province.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported that 24-year-old Muhammad Ismail was executed by a Pakistan-backed death squad on March 9 in the Kharan district.
According to BYC, Ismail had previously experienced enforced disappearance in June 2025 and was released in January of this year, only to be subsequently tracked and killed weeks later.
The organization characterized this heinous act as part of a systematic campaign to instill fear and silence the Baloch populace.
BYC urged the international community and human rights advocates to take swift action and support the Baloch people's quest for justice, dignity, and freedom.
In a statement on the atrocities in Balochistan, the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement (Paank) condemned the violent slaying of 26-year-old shopkeeper Hatum Baloch in Kech district on March 4.
According to reports, Hatum was enticed out of his shop by unidentified armed individuals in a white vehicle. When he attempted to flee, the assailants opened fire, killing him instantly.
The rights organization also condemned the brutal torture endured by Baloch civilian Imdad Seyad, who was released on March 14 after being forcibly disappeared on February 6 from Turbat city in Kech.
Paank reported that the condition of Seyad upon release was concerning.
“Visible signs of violence on his body and his frail state strongly indicate he was held in an undisclosed facility where he experienced inhumane treatment,” it stated.
Expressing alarm, Paank noted, “The abduction of civilians without legal justification, their clandestine detention, and their eventual release under tortured conditions exemplify a persistent pattern of impunity enjoyed by security forces in Balochistan. These actions violate fundamental human rights, including the right to liberty, dignity, and protection from torture.”
Furthermore, Paank disclosed that two additional civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in the Jiwani area of Gwadar district in Balochistan.
Reports indicated that 18-year-old students Zaeem and Kambar were abducted on March 10 from the Panwan region in Jiwani by personnel associated with the Frontier Corps (FC) and Military Intelligence (MI).