Shaal (Balochistan): In an unabated oppression in Balochistan, Pakistani forces killed 195 people in extra-judicial manner, while 629 became victims of the notorious ‘Enforced disappearances’ and 187 suffered torture at the hands of Pakistani agencies.
These harrowing statistics have been brought out in a report by Paank, the human rights unit of the Baloch National Movement (BNM).
The report highlights how the year 2022 was full of human tragedy in Balochistan with its people being subjected to mass punishment, forced disappearances, murders, massacres and violence.
The notorious Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) under Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Pakistan Army “subjected hundreds of Baloch, including women and children, to enforced disappearance, collective punishment, killing in fake encounters and torture in various areas in Balochistan and Sindh”, it said.
According to Paank, 187 forcibly disappeared people were released by the Pakistan Army after extreme torture.
The ‘Enforced Disappearances’ or ‘Forced Disappearances’ is a practice being followed by the Pakistani security forces and agencies, wherein individuals are picked up illegally and then there whereabouts are never known.
Most of the victims of ‘Enforced Disappearances’ never return home, while some are found dead somewhere with torture marks.
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Giving details, the report said that in January 2022, there were 92 enforced disappearances and 15 murders while one person was tortured by the Pakistan army.
At least 95 enforced disappearances, 42 murders and 5 tortures cases were reported in February, it said.
In March, 62 people became victims of enforced disappearance while 19 were killed and 6 people were tortured.
In April, 50 enforced disappearances, 39 murders and 18 tortures were reported, while 61 enforced disappearances, 5 murders and 22 tortures were reported in May.
At least 26 people were forcibly disappeared and 11 people were murdered in June while in July, 46 people were forcibly disappeared, 16 were killed, and 28 were tortured.
August saw 55 forced disappearances, 5 murders and 37 tortures and in September, there were 30 forcibly disappearances, 02 murders and 19 people were tortured.
In October, 38 people forcibly disappeared, 15 were killed, and 18 were tortured whereas in November, 36 people were forcibly disappeared, 23 were killed, and 14 were tortured.
In December, there were 38 enforced disappearances and 2 murders and 19 people were tortured.
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Families of the victims of ‘Enforced Disappearances’ have been protesting for the recovery of their loved ones for many years.
“There have been several negotiations between the government and the families, but the powerless government of Pakistan has failed to fulfil its promises and enforce the law,” the Paank says, referring to the all-powerful clout that the Pakistan Army has.
“Even the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said, ‘I will talk to the powerful circles about the enforced disappearances’. This makes it clear that the so-called democratic governments of Pakistan do not have the power, but the center of power is the Pakistani Army,” the report underlines.
“Because of this, the negotiations between the government and the families became fruitless and the humanitarian crisis in Balochistan deepened,” it adds.
The report states that a complete ban has been imposed on Baloch (pro-freedom) nationalist parties in Balochistan, and only the Pakistan army and pro-military groups have political freedom.
Due to bans on nationalist parties, a vacuum has been created in Balochistan, which the Pakistani army tries to fill with its supporters.
