Two Baloch students were subjected to enforced disappearances by Pakistani forces in Balochistan and Punjab provinces, according to Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, which disclosed the cases on Thursday, 30 July. The incidents have drawn fresh condemnation from rights groups and diaspora organisations, adding to a long-documented pattern of enforced disappearances targeting Baloch civilians.

The Two Cases

Bakhtiyar Baloch, a 23-year-old student, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces on 10 July from Nishtar Hospital in Multan, Punjab. In a separate incident, Noor Zaib, aged 17, was reportedly disappeared last month from Sariab Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Both cases were documented and disclosed by Paank.

What Paank Said

Paank condemned the incidents in strong terms, stating: 'The continued targeting of Baloch students and civilians through enforced disappearances reflects a deeply alarming pattern of impunity that demands urgent international attention. The disappearance of young people, including students, is an attack on human dignity and the rule of law. No authority should be allowed to operate beyond legal accountability or deprive individuals of their fundamental rights through secret detention and incommunicado custody.'

The rights body further noted that such acts constitute grave violations of fundamental human rights, including the rights to liberty, security, due process, and protection from arbitrary detention. It described enforced disappearance as 'a serious violation of international human rights law' that 'inflicts lasting suffering on victims and their families.'

International Intervention Demanded

Paank formally called on the United Nations, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, relevant UN Special Rapporteurs, the European Union, and the broader international community to urgently intervene and take concrete action. 'Silence and inaction only embolden perpetrators and prolong the suffering of victims' families, who continue to live without truth, justice, or accountability,' the organisation added.

Judge's Killing Sparks Separate Outcry

In a related development, Tara Chand, President of the Baloch American Congress, sharply criticised the killing of Abdul Hakeem Kakar, the District and Sessions Judge of Mastung district in Balochistan, described as an honest judge who served the poor and upheld justice. Posting on X, Chand called for an independent and transparent inquiry into the killing, including into 'alleged involvement of secret Pakistani state agencies.' He stated: 'Those responsible for this crime must be identified and held accountable based on credible evidence.'

The twin disclosures come amid sustained international scrutiny of Pakistan's human rights record in Balochistan, a region where enforced disappearances have been documented by the UN and multiple rights groups over more than two decades. Whether Islamabad will respond to the latest calls for accountability remains to be seen.