Balochistan killings: Four more civilians dead, rights groups allege Pakistani forces
Synopsis
Human rights bodies Paank and BYC allege that Pakistani security forces killed four Baloch civilians across three districts in less than a week — including two brothers shot after a roadside fuel stop, a tractor driver who died after alleged custodial torture and a ransom demand of Rs 5 million, and a 20-year-old student. The cases have prompted urgent calls to the UN to intervene.
Key Takeaways
Rights groups allege four civilians were extrajudicially killed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan , with incidents reported between 8 and 10 July 2025 .
Brothers Imam and Muhammad Umar from Kech district were allegedly detained and found dead with gunshot wounds on 10 July , according to Paank .
Riaz Baloch , 35, from Dera Bugti died on 10 July after alleged custodial torture by the CTD ; his family alleges a ransom of Rs 5 million was demanded for his release.
Student Kamran Baloch , 20, was allegedly killed on 8 July in Khuzdar district by what the BYC described as Pakistan-backed death squads.
Both Paank and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) have called on the United Nations and global rights bodies to urgently intervene.
At least four civilians have allegedly been extrajudicially killed by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, human rights organisations claimed on Monday, 13 July, citing multiple incidents across the province. The allegations, raised by two prominent rights bodies, point to what they describe as a deepening pattern of enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and targeted killings in the restive region.
Brothers Killed in Kech District
Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, alleged the extrajudicial killing of two brothers — Imam and Muhammad Umar — residents of the Shaban Bazaar area in Kech district. According to the organisation, the brothers, who worked as labourers in the Jiwani area, were returning home on 10 July when their motorcycle reportedly ran out of fuel near Balicha Cross.
Eyewitness accounts cited by Paank alleged that both men were taken into custody by Pakistani security forces and were subsequently found dead with gunshot wounds. Their bodies were handed over to the family by police on Monday. Paank called for a 'prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation' into the incident, stating that if the allegations are confirmed, those responsible must be held accountable under international human rights standards.
Tractor Driver Dies After Alleged Custodial Torture
In a separate case, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported that Riaz Baloch, a 35-year-old tractor driver from Dera Bugti district, died on 10 July following what the rights body described as severe torture during custody by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
According to the BYC, Riaz was forcibly disappeared during a CTD raid on his home on 12 June. His family alleged that CTD officials demanded Pakistani Rupees 5 million for his release. He was released on 13 June in critical condition and subsequently transferred to Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on 10 July.
The BYC stated: 'The death of Riaz Baloch highlights the pattern of enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and extortion carried out under the guise of counterterrorism operations in Balochistan.'
Student Killed in Khuzdar
The BYC also alleged that Kamran Baloch, a 20-year-old student, was targeted and killed on 8 July in Khuzdar district by what the organisation described as 'Pakistan-backed death squads.' The rights body called the killing 'yet another tragic reminder of the continuing violence against the Baloch people.'
Rights Bodies Call for International Intervention
Both Paank and the BYC have urged the United Nations and international human rights organisations to take urgent notice of the situation in Balochistan. The BYC warned that civilians across all walks of life — 'students, teachers, doctors, labourers, and ordinary civilians' — face enforced disappearances and targeted killings without accountability.
This comes amid a broader pattern of documented rights violations in Balochistan that international bodies have repeatedly flagged. The Pakistani government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations. As pressure from rights groups intensifies, the question of independent oversight of security operations in the province remains unresolved.
Point of View
If verified, are not isolated incidents but part of a documented, recurring pattern — enforced disappearances, custodial deaths, and alleged extortion by security forces operating with near-total impunity in Balochistan. What stands out in the Riaz Baloch case is the alleged extortion demand of Rs 5 million, suggesting that counterterrorism operations may in some instances be weaponised for financial exploitation. The Pakistani state's consistent silence on such specific allegations, combined with the absence of any independent oversight mechanism, means accountability remains structurally impossible. International attention has grown, but without binding mechanisms, rights body statements risk becoming a ritual of documentation without consequence.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the four civilians allegedly killed in Balochistan?
The four are brothers Imam and Muhammad Umar from Kech district, tractor driver Riaz Baloch from Dera Bugti district, and student Kamran Baloch from Khuzdar district. All deaths were reported between 8 and 10 July 2025, according to human rights organisations Paank and BYC.
What happened to Riaz Baloch in CTD custody?
Riaz Baloch, 35, was allegedly forcibly disappeared by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department during a raid on 12 June. His family alleged that CTD officials demanded Rs 5 million for his release. He was freed on 13 June in critical condition and died on 10 July at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, according to the BYC.
What are Paank and BYC calling for?
Paank has demanded a prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the Kech killings, with accountability under international human rights standards. The BYC has called on the United Nations and global rights organisations to urgently intervene in what it describes as a deepening human rights crisis in Balochistan.
Has the Pakistani government responded to these allegations?
The Pakistani government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations as of the reporting date. Rights organisations say the absence of accountability mechanisms allows such incidents to continue unchecked.
What is the broader context of rights violations in Balochistan?
Balochistan has been the site of long-running allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and custodial abuse, documented by multiple domestic and international rights bodies. The BYC states that civilians across all sections of society — students, labourers, teachers, and doctors — remain at risk.
