Quetta: Continuing with their barbarian tactics, Pakistani forces killed three people in extra-judicial manner and illegally abducted 35 others in occupied Balochistan during the month of July, according to a report.
These killings and ‘enforced disappearances’ were besides the short-term detentions and torture of many others, says the report by Paank, the human rights wing of Baloch National Movement (BNM).
Paank, which publishes detailed monthly reports on human rights situation in Balochistan, says Pakistani forces violate their own country’s Constitution as well as international human rights laws and sought immediate international intervention.
In Balochistan, the use of state violence against the families of the forcibly disappeared has disturbingly become the norm and situation continues to worsen, Paank says.
Giving a break-up of the enforced disappearances carried out by the Pakistani forces and their agents during the month of July, the latest report says 13 people were abducted from Shaal, 8 people from Kech, 7 from Awaran, 6 from Khuzdar, 2 from Mastung, five from Kharan, three from Gwadar and and five from Karachi.
‘Enforced disappearances’ is an illegal and inhuman practice of the Pakistani forces under which civilians are picked up and their whereabouts are never known thereafter, in most cases.
Only a few are lucky, who after years of illegal detention, are released in badly tortured and mutilated condition, some of them barely alive or in their senses.
Expressing deep concern over this ongoing situation, Paank’s report highlighted the recent case of Zaheer Baloch, who was forcibly disappeared by the Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).
His distraught relatives staged a peaceful sit-in protest at Saryab Road, Shaal to demand his release but instead of addressing their grievances and seeking a resolution, the authorities responded with brutality, torturing and arresting the protestors, the report says.
Panak also drew attention to the ongoing sit-in by the families of forcibly disappeared in Turbat, where they continue to protest despite scorching temperatures ranging from 45 to 48 degrees Celsius.
Despite the severity of their plight, the government has largely ignored their demands.
In another incident, Kocha village in Tehsil Naal, Khuzdar district, was besieged and attacked, resulting in the torture and injury of women, along with the enforced disappearance of six individuals, the report says.
Their relatives blocked the CPEC-M8 link road in protest, Paank said, adding although the administration promised to release the detained individuals, this pledge remains unfulfilled.
Panak’s report also draws attention to the escalating state violence against the Baloch Raji Muchi or the Baloch National Gathering, which was launched on July 28 and garnered worldwide concern.
The report states that on July 28, 2024, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee organized a rally in Gwadar to protest against human rights violations, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan.
However, the government forcibly dispersed the peaceful rally, igniting protests across the region when Raji Muchi participants were blocked from attending, it said.
In Mastung, Hub Choki, and Turbat, protesters faced severe repression, with 14 injured in Mastung, including Abdul Muteeb Baloch, who sustained a critical head injury.
In Turbat, 25 protesters were wounded, and one, Asghar Baloch, tragically died.
The situation further deteriorated in Gwadar, where the FC, CTD police, and intelligence agencies used tear gas, live ammunition, and baton charges against the Raji Muchi protesters.
