Pakistan imposes curfew in Balochistan's Surab district till August 15
Synopsis
Pakistan has clamped a nightly curfew on Surab district in central Balochistan through 15 August 2026, even as human rights groups report an enforced disappearance in the same district and the killing of a Baloch civilian in Khuzdar — hours after his daughter publicly pleaded for protection. The timing has deepened suspicions about the security crackdown's true purpose.
Key Takeaways
Pakistan imposed a nightly curfew in Surab district, Balochistan from 9 to 15 August 2026 , operative from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily.
The Khuzdar district administration separately ordered all commercial establishments to close from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. until further notice.
Paank (Baloch National Movement's human rights wing) reported that 19-year-old labourer Saeed Ahmed was allegedly disappeared by ISI and Frontier Corps personnel from Surab on 12 July 2026 .
Baloch civilian Inayatullah Jattak was shot dead in Khuzdar on 4 August 2026 , reportedly by Pakistan-backed death squads, hours after his daughter Asma Jattak appealed publicly for protection.
Asma Jattak alleged in a video statement that death squad member Zahoor Jamalzai had threatened to kill her father and brothers.
Pakistani authorities imposed a night-to-morning curfew in Surab district of central Balochistan province from 9 August to 15 August 2026, citing a deteriorating law and order situation. The official notification, as reported by Pakistan's daily Dawn, mandates that the curfew remain in force daily from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. throughout the specified period.
Key Restrictions in Place
The district administration has directed residents to stay indoors during curfew hours and comply with security standard operating procedures (SOPs). The notification explicitly warned that individuals who violate the curfew will be held personally responsible for any harm resulting from their actions.
In the neighbouring Khuzdar district, the deputy commissioner's office issued a separate order requiring all markets, shops, hotels, and commercial establishments to shut operations from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. That order, also reported by Dawn, will remain in effect until further directives are issued.
Background: Enforced Disappearances and Civilian Killings
The curfew comes against a backdrop of mounting human rights concerns in the region. Last month, Paank — the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement — reported that Saeed Ahmed, a 19-year-old labourer, was subjected to an enforced disappearance from the Nigar area of Surab district on 12 July 2026, allegedly carried out by personnel of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Frontier Corps (FC).
Separately, multiple Baloch activist groups and human rights organisations have condemned the killing of Baloch civilian Inayatullah Jattak in Khuzdar district, reportedly by Pakistan-backed death squads. According to the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), Jattak was shot dead on 4 August 2026 — hours after his daughter, Asma Jattak, publicly appealed for protection and warned that her father and brothers faced serious threats to their lives.
Asma Jattak's Allegations
In a video statement circulated by BVJ on social media platform X, Asma Jattak alleged that death squad member Zahoor Jamalzai and his associates had directly threatened to kill her father and brothers. The appeal, made before the killing, lends weight to activist claims that civilian protection mechanisms in the province remain critically inadequate.
Wider Context
This is not an isolated incident. Balochistan has witnessed a prolonged pattern of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and security crackdowns, with human rights groups documenting hundreds of cases over the past decade. The simultaneous imposition of curfew in Surab and commercial shutdowns in Khuzdar signals an escalating security posture by Pakistani authorities in central Balochistan. Whether these measures will stabilise the situation or deepen civilian grievances remains to be seen.
Point of View
Civilian casualties, and information blackouts that make independent verification nearly impossible. The simultaneous crackdown across two districts suggests a coordinated posture, not a localised response.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Pakistan imposed a curfew in Surab district, Balochistan?
Pakistani authorities imposed the curfew citing a 'law and order situation', according to the official notification reported by Dawn. The curfew applies nightly from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. between 9 and 15 August 2026, with residents directed to remain indoors and follow security SOPs.
What restrictions are in place in Khuzdar district?
The Khuzdar deputy commissioner's office ordered all markets, shops, hotels, and commercial establishments to close from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. daily until further directives. The order is separate from the Surab curfew but covers the same overnight window.
Who is Inayatullah Jattak and what happened to him?
Inayatullah Jattak was a Baloch civilian shot dead in Khuzdar district on 4 August 2026, reportedly by Pakistan-backed death squads, according to the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ). He was killed hours after his daughter Asma Jattak publicly appealed for protection, warning that her family's lives were under serious threat.
What is the enforced disappearance case linked to Surab district?
Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, reported that 19-year-old labourer Saeed Ahmed was allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance from the Nigar area of Surab district on 12 July 2026, allegedly carried out by ISI and Frontier Corps personnel.
What is the broader human rights situation in Balochistan?
Balochistan has faced sustained allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and security crackdowns for over a decade, with multiple human rights organisations documenting hundreds of cases. The current curfew and recent incidents have drawn fresh condemnation from Baloch activist groups.
