Balochistan: 22 more people forcibly disappeared this month amid ongoing crackdown, total number rising to 56

Amid ongoing atrocities and cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan by the Pakistani Armed Forces, 22 more persons were recently forcibly disappeared, taking the total number of enforced disappearances this month to 56.

In Noshki district, nine people were detained during raids conducted by Pakistani forces in Taraiz and Badal Karez areas on 7 and 8 October.

According to Balochistan Post, those detained have been identified as Master Farid Ahmed, Abdul Malik, Mumtaz Baloch, Iqbal Baloch, Habib Baloch, Sharif Jan, Shah Saleem, Zahoor Jan and Asfand Baloch, who were allegedly Has been taken to an unknown location.

Meanwhile, on 19 October, 12 more Baloch persons were forcibly disappeared in Dera Bugti during a raid by Pakistani forces. The Baloch Yakzehti Committee (BYC) confirmed these incidents while expressing concern over the increasing number of forced disappearances in the region.

“Their families have no information about their whereabouts and fear for their safety,” BYC said in a statement. The names of the missing people have been given as Dr. Wazir Bugti, Police Station Incharge Tariq Bugti, Raees Bugti, Murtaza Bugti, Qasim Bugti, Barkat Bugti, Zahid Bugti. Parho Bugti, Fazal Hussain Bugti, Fazal Bugti, Juma Bugti and Qurban Bugti.

BYC called on the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate action, urging: “We must protest to end this cruel practice.”

According to Balochistan Post, a youth named Abdul Malik, son of Muhammad Yusuf, was forcibly disappeared by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in Turbat, located in Kech district, on October 11. ,

The increase in incidents of enforced disappearances comes at a time when the United Nations Human Rights Committee for the Protection of Civil and Political Rights highlighted the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan during its review of Pakistan’s human rights record at the Committee’s 142nd session in Geneva. But serious concerns were expressed.

Baloch Sarmachar pointed out that the Committee highlighted the increase in cases of enforced disappearances specifically targeting the Baloch community and questioned the Pakistani delegation on efforts to address these cases.

Helen Tigroudja, a legal expert and committee member, said the number of disappearances had increased significantly since Pakistan’s last review in 2017.

Citing data from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, he/she said more than 7,000 cases were reported in Pakistan from 2004 to 2024.

According to Baloch Sarmachar, “Political activists, journalists, students and human rights defenders, particularly from Balochistan, continue to be targeted.”