Four young Baloch men have been reported missing amid ongoing enforced disappearances in Karachi

Four young Baloch men were reported missing in Karachi on Tuesday, amid ongoing atrocities and enforced disappearances in Balochistan by Pakistani armed forces.

Reports indicate that Pakistani forces had reportedly detained the four youths after raiding a hotel in Karachi. The detained have been identified as Zain Baloch, Zarif Ahmed, Akram Baloch and Anees Baloch, all residents of Panjgur, The Balochistan Post reported.

Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) confirmed the incident, saying the four men were from Parom area of ​​Panjgur city and were staying at a hotel in Sadar, Karachi for medical treatment. Eyewitnesses reported that Karachi police and plainclothes officers raided the hotel, tortured both the hotel manager and the victims, and took the manager away. Although the manager was later released, the four youths are still missing.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Post released its monthly report on enforced disappearances in September, revealing that 44 persons were reported to have been forcibly disappeared. Seven bodies have been recovered, many of which are unidentified. Additionally, nineteen people were released after being detained. The continuing spate of kidnappings, deaths and disappearances is creating fear across the region.

According to the report, the highest number of cases of enforced disappearance were recorded in Gwadar, where 11 people were forcibly disappeared. Other areas include Kech (5), Kharan (4), and Quetta, Mastung, Panjgur and Jahu (3 each).

Balochistan is facing many current issues deeply rooted in its historical, political and socio-economic context. The region is marked by reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture by state security forces. Activists and journalists who speak out against these abuses often face threats and harassment. The Baloch people often feel alienated from political power and decision-making processes, with many local leaders advocating for greater autonomy and self-determination to address these grievances.