Quetta, Dec 28 (NationPress) Human rights organizations, activists, legal professionals, and student groups have raised alarms regarding the increasing incidents of enforced disappearances of Baloch women. They assert that the recent cases reflect a disturbing trend in the human rights situation in Balochistan, Pakistan, according to a report.

The Baloch Students Organisation (BSO Azad) has denounced the ongoing enforced disappearances as "the most brutal form of Baloch genocide," urging that the silence from international human rights organizations is "deeply alarming," as reported by The Balochistan Post.

In its statement, BSO Azad condemned the violation of Baloch customs, the sexual abuse of women, and the forced abduction of women as a method of collective punishment. The organization highlighted that women endure torture, false accusations, and public humiliation through media trials, while elderly and sick women are being placed in "torture cells."

The group characterized the disappearance of Baloch women as a calculated attempt to intimidate the populace, silence activists, and crush resistance efforts. They cautioned that Pakistan aims to normalize such abuses against Baloch women to evade scrutiny. They urged international entities to hold the state accountable and called upon the people of Balochistan to mount strong resistance to ensure that women can live "a safe and dignified life, free from oppression and violence."

The Makran High Court Bar Association labeled the so-called "abduction-style arrests" of Baloch women as "the worst atrocity in history," asserting that Balochistan is currently navigating "the most delicate phase in its history." The Bar Association noted that women are now being targeted after young men had been the primary focus for years, describing this trend as a breach of human rights and a violation of the Constitution.

According to Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sammi Deen Baloch, fresh reports of enforced disappearances indicate that women are being taken from their homes "in front of their families, without warrants or charges," and lamented that "what was once unimaginable has now become normalized."

Baloch emphasized that the enforced disappearances of underage girls, pregnant women, and young mothers demonstrate that "no one is safe anymore in the face of state violence." She asserted that these cases signify a systematic approach to terrorize society, silence dissent, and punish families. She urged the public to raise their voices in support of efforts seeking the safe recovery of Baloch women.

The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) voiced its concerns regarding the escalating incidents of enforced disappearances of Baloch women. In its statement, HRCB described the rise in cases as indicative of a "dangerous expansion" of a practice that has already been normalized due to years of disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch men. The organization stated that these actions contravene Pakistan's Constitution and its commitments under international human rights treaties, calling for the recovery of all disappeared women and an end to enforced disappearances.

On Tuesday, numerous Baloch families protested in the Kech district against the enforced disappearance of four family members by Pakistani forces. As per BYC, the victims—two women and two men—identified as Fareed Ijaz, Mujahid Dilwash, Hani Dilwash, and Hair-Nisa Wahid were forcibly taken by Pakistani agencies. The rights group stated that their families have taken to the streets of Tejaban village in Kech, demanding the safe return of their loved ones.

"Their protest is peaceful, yet their voices are being ignored, and no clear information has been provided about the whereabouts of the missing family members. The families have vowed not to end their protest until all four are safely recovered. They are urging the community of Tejaban and surrounding areas to unite with them and speak out against enforced disappearances, a practice that has devastated countless families across Balochistan," the BYC posted on X.