The tragic story of Anjeera is one of relentless oppression, historical injustice, and state-backed brutality. The suffering of its people, compounded by the abduction of Asma Baloch, is a heart-wrenching testament to the collective punishment inflicted upon them for decades.
A Legacy of Persecution
Anjeera, historically home to the Kahni sub-clan of the Zehri tribe within the Baloch nation, was granted to them by Mir Naseer Khan Noori in recognition of their participation in the Battle of Panipat alongside Ahmed Shah Abdali. For centuries, the people of Anjeera cultivated their lands and raised livestock, living in relative peace. However, their lives took a dark turn when Sardar Pasund Khan Zehri obtained tax collection rights from the Khan of Kalat for a modest sum, marking the beginning of a long and systematic campaign of dispossession.
Under Sardar Doda Khan Zehri, father of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, the forced occupation of native lands began. The locals resisted and sought justice through legal channels, leading to an agreement in which they would pay 25% of their agricultural income to the sardar. This fragile peace lasted for over a decade until Doda Khan’s death. His elder son, Sardar Rasool Bux Zehri, briefly succeeded him but was soon assassinated in Quetta by his own brother, the current Nawab Sanaullah Zehri. Once in power, Sanaullah Zehri escalated the land seizures, using violence and state-backed repression to claim more territory. In 1997, a confrontation between Zehri’s forces and the locals resulted in injuries to two Anjeera residents and the arrest of seven others at his behest. Using his growing influence in government, he branded the natives as anti-state elements, paving the way for their forced displacement.
The Forced Migration of 2014
By mid-2014, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri ordered the complete eviction of Anjeera’s native inhabitants, accusing them of supporting the Baloch liberation movement. In reality, the motive was the longstanding land dispute between the villagers and the Nawab, who sought total control over the region’s agricultural wealth. The villagers were given an ultimatum: either submit to servitude as farmers on their own lands under Zehri’s authority, receiving only a quarter of the income, or leave Anjeera entirely.
Under coercion and the threat of violence, the entire population of Anjeera was forced to migrate. Families that had lived there for generations were uprooted overnight, seeking refuge in Khuzdar, Quetta, Sindh, and Hub Chowki. Their homes were bulldozed on the direct orders of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri—an act corroborated through satellite imagery showing the drastic transformation of Anjeera before and after 2014. Today, Anjeera no longer belongs to its original inhabitants. The once-thriving village has been repurposed for agricultural use by Nawab Zehri, who has provided refuge to criminals and state-backed death squads. Reports indicate that fugitives from Punjab and Sindh, involved in serious crimes, have found sanctuary in Anjeera under the Nawab’s patronage.
Once filled with joy, the homes of Anjeera’s natives now stand empty and in ruins.
Asma’s Captivity and Forced Confession
On the second day of her abduction, Zahoor Jamalzai forcibly recorded a video of Asma, in which she was made to say that she had willingly gone with him and that he had not abducted her. In the same video, Zahoor sat beside Asma, claiming she had called him and left of her own free will. He also issued threats against those protesting for her safe release.
Public Pressure Forces Release, But Threats Continue
On the third day, intense public pressure forced Zahoor Jamalzai to release Asma, yet local authorities played no role in securing her freedom. Zahoor and his brother Rahim Bux left Asma near a police party, who then brought her back to Khuzdar. Before releasing her, Zahoor threatened Asma, warning her that once she was presented in court, she must tell the judge that she wanted to marry him and that she had not been abducted—or else he would kill her father and brothers.
Asma returned to her family deeply traumatized and terrified. During her three days in captivity, she neither ate nor drank anything and was unable to sleep. When she finally reunited with her loved ones, she was physically weak and could not speak to the media for more than five minutes.
Despite these crimes, Zahoor Jamalzai and Rahim Bux continue to roam freely in Anjeera under the protection of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and his brother Mir Naimat Ullah Zehri. Asma’s family is demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
A History of Bloodshed: The Targeted Killings of Anjeera’s People
The people of Anjeera have paid a heavy price for their resistance. The following individuals have been murdered at the hands of state-backed death squads.
Zakria Zehri (BSO Azad member) – abducted in Quetta (2010), found dead in Surab (2011).
Yaseen Zehri (BNM member) – assassinated in Anjeera (2011).
Ibrahim Zehri – murdered (2011).
Fareed Khan Zehri – killed in Lakorian (2012).
Abdul Ghaffar Zehri – shot dead in his shop in Khuzdar (2013).
Amanullah Zehri – abducted in Hub (2013), still missing.
Nisar Zehri & Sarfaraz Ahmed (teenagers) – murdered in Surab’s market (2013).
Abdul Salam (Fiancé of Asma) shot dead in Anjeera (2013).
Mohammad Yaqoob Zehri (80) & Rauf Zehri (18) – shot dead in Anjeera (2014).
Maqbool Zehri, Saddam Zehri & Sahib Khan Zehri – killed in Hajika, Surab (2016).
The Protectors of Death Squads
Notorious killers like Rahim Bux and Zahoor Jamalzai, responsible for numerous assassinations in Khuzdar and beyond, continue to operate under the protection of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, a senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party and a member of the Balochistan Assembly. His younger brother, Mir Naimatullah Zehri, a former senator, also shields these criminals.
These death squads function as enforcers of political and tribal dominance, silencing dissent through fear and brutality. Their victims include political activists, students, and ordinary citizens who dare to speak against their reign of terror. Despite overwhelming evidence of their involvement in abductions and extrajudicial killings, they move freely, enjoying political patronage and state protection. The complicity of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary ensures that no meaningful action is taken against them. Instead of facing justice, these criminals are rewarded with power and resources, further emboldening their ruthless grip over Khuzdar and the surrounding regions
A Call for International Action Against the Perpetrators of State-Backed Crimes in Balochistan
The plight of the people of Anjeera is a glaring example of how state backed violence, land dispossession, and systematic persecution continue unabated in Balochistan. For decades, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and his brother Mir Naimatullah Zehri have operated with impunity, using their influence within the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to shield death squads, crush dissent, and orchestrate the targeted killings of Baloch activists. The abduction of Asma Baloch, the forced displacement of Anjeera’s residents, and the brutal murders of numerous innocent people are not isolated incidents; they are part of a calculated campaign of terror designed to suppress the Baloch people’s struggle for their fundamental rights.
The current Balochistan government is led by the PPP, with Nawab Zehri holding significant power. The PPP also governs Sindh and is a coalition partner in Pakistan’s federal government. More concerningly, the current President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, is the co-chairman of the PPP. This political dominance allows them to operate unchecked, ensuring that the perpetrators of these atrocities never face justice.
The international community cannot remain silent in the face of these ongoing human rights violations. The people of Balochistan deserve justice, and it is imperative that global powers take decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.
Appeal to the International Community
Pressurize the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to put an end to the atrocities in Balochistan, including the forced displacement, abductions, and killings carried out under the protection of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and his brother Mir Naimatullah Zehri.
Impose targeted sanctions on Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Mir Naimatullah Zehri, and other members of state-backed death squads operating in Balochistan. These sanctions should include travel bans, freezing of overseas assets, and restrictions on financial transactions.
Ban them from entering Western countries and revoke any foreign visas, residency, or citizenship they may hold, preventing them from using foreign soil as a safe haven while committing crimes in Balochistan.
Hold the Pakistani government accountable by demanding transparency regarding enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the use of death squads in Balochistan. The world must not remain complicit in these crimes.
Investigate and expose the financial assets of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Mir Naimatullah Zehri, and other PPP leaders abroad, ensuring they cannot launder money earned through land grabs, extortion, and human rights abuses.
Raise the case of Asma Baloch at international forums, including the United Nations, European Union, and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, demanding accountability for those responsible for her abduction and the decades-long persecution of her people.
Conclusion
The Pakistan People’s Party, which currently controls Balochistan, Sindh, and is a key player in Pakistan’s federal government, must be forced to answer for its role in enabling and protecting death squads. The world must not turn a blind eye to the systematic repression in Balochistan.
Justice for Anjeera’s people and Asma Baloch is not just a local issue—it is a test of the international community’s commitment to human rights, justice, and the rule of law. Western governments and human rights organizations must act before more innocent lives are lost.