HRCP raises alarm over Balochistan, KP security collapse amid killings and abductions
Synopsis
Pakistan's top rights body has sounded its sharpest alarm yet over Balochistan and KP — where a university vice-chancellor has been allegedly abducted on a major highway, a poet-professor shot dead, and markets bombed in three KP districts. The HRCP's demand for accountability cuts to the heart of a state that critics say has long failed to protect its own citizens in these provinces.
Key Takeaways
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued an urgent warning on 17 May over security collapse in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa .
The vice-chancellor , pro-vice chancellor , and two employees of Gwadar University were allegedly abducted in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta.
Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat , a poet and educator, was reportedly shot dead in Nushki district ; the Baloch National Movement alleged state-linked death squads were responsible.
Deadly militant attacks in Bannu , Bajaur , and Lakki Marwat — including a market bombing in Sarai Naurang — signal a worsening pattern in KP.
HRCP demanded recovery of missing officials, credible investigations, and accountability for perpetrators.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on 17 May issued a sharp warning over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), stating that civilians are increasingly trapped between enforced disappearances, targeted killings, and escalating militant violence. The statement, posted on X, marks one of the rights body's most urgent public interventions on the twin provinces in recent months.
Gwadar University Officials Allegedly Abducted on Mastung Highway
At the centre of the Balochistan crisis is the alleged kidnapping of the vice-chancellor, pro-vice chancellor, and two other employees of Gwadar University in Mastung, while they were travelling from Gwadar to Quetta. The HRCP said the incident 'raises serious questions about the state's ability to secure major highways and protect civilians.' The abduction of senior academics on a key inter-city route underscores what critics describe as a near-total breakdown of civilian security infrastructure in the province.
Professor Shot Dead in Noshki, Rights Groups Condemn Attack on Intellectuals
Compounding the crisis, Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat — described as a prominent poet, literary scholar, and educator — was reportedly shot dead in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki district. The Baloch National Movement's (BNM) human rights department, Paank, alleged on Saturday that individuals linked to Pakistan-backed death squads carried out the killing. The HRCP stated it is 'equally disturbed' by the killing and warned that 'when teachers and academics are abducted or shot dead, the consequences extend far beyond individual tragedies.'
Naseem Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement, characterised Hayat's killing as part of what he termed an 'ongoing Baloch genocide and collective punishment.' He said, 'By targeting scholars and voices of awareness, the aim is to destroy the intellectual and cultural foundation of the Baloch nation.' These allegations have not been independently verified, and Pakistani authorities have not publicly responded to them.
Militant Attacks Spread Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the HRCP flagged deadly attacks in Bannu, Bajaur, and Lakki Marwat, including the bombing of a crowded market in Sarai Naurang. The commission stated these incidents 'point to a worsening pattern of militant violence that continues to take lives indiscriminately, including those of civilians, police officers and security personnel.' This comes amid a broader resurgence of militant activity in KP that security analysts have been tracking since late 2023.
HRCP Demands Accountability and Credible Investigations
The HRCP urged the Pakistani state to 'move beyond statements of condemnation' and take concrete action. Its immediate demands include the recovery of the missing Gwadar University officials, credible investigations into all attacks, and accountability for perpetrators. The rights body's repeated interventions on Balochistan and KP reflect a pattern of institutional concern that has gone largely unaddressed, according to civil society observers. Whether this latest statement prompts a government response remains to be seen.
Point of View
Educators and cultural figures are among the first to be silenced. The abduction of university officials on a major highway between Gwadar and Quetta, a route that should be among the most secured given its strategic importance to CPEC, is a particularly damning indicator of ground reality. Mainstream coverage tends to treat each incident as isolated; the cumulative picture is of two provinces where the social contract has effectively broken down.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the HRCP said about Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan issued a statement on 17 May expressing deep alarm over the sharp deterioration in security across both provinces, citing enforced disappearances, targeted killings, and militant attacks. It called on the state to move beyond condemnations and take concrete protective action.
Who are the Gwadar University officials allegedly abducted?
The vice-chancellor, pro-vice chancellor, and two other employees of Gwadar University were allegedly abducted in Mastung while travelling from Gwadar to Quetta. The HRCP said the incident raises serious questions about the state's ability to secure major highways and protect civilians.
Who was Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat and how did he die?
Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat was a prominent poet, literary scholar, and educator in Balochistan. He was reportedly shot dead in the Killi Mengal area of Nushki district; the Baloch National Movement's human rights wing alleged that individuals linked to Pakistan-backed death squads carried out the killing, though this has not been independently verified.
What attacks has the HRCP flagged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
The HRCP highlighted deadly militant attacks in Bannu, Bajaur, and Lakki Marwat, including the bombing of a crowded market in Sarai Naurang. It described these as part of a worsening pattern of violence targeting civilians, police, and security personnel.
What is the Baloch National Movement's position on these killings?
BNM chairman Naseem Baloch described the killing of Professor Hayat as part of what he called an ongoing Baloch genocide and collective punishment. He alleged that targeting scholars is intended to destroy the intellectual and cultural foundation of the Baloch people — claims the Pakistani government has not publicly addressed.
