Enforced Disappearances
In September 2024, multiple cases of enforced disappearances were reported across 11 districts of Balochistan, with some cases extending into parts of Punjab. Gwadar district recorded the highest number of incidents, with 11individuals forcibly disappeared. In total, 41 people were forcibly disappeared after being arrested by institutions affiliated with the Pakistan Army and intelligence services across Balochistan.
Extrajudicial Killings
The extrajudicial killings by Pakistani forces in Balochistan continue unabated. The Pakistani military is reportedly detaining and killing individuals without due process for undisclosed reasons.
On September 7, 2024, two brothers, 20-year-old Muhammad Ismail and 17-year-old Muhammad Abbas, were taken from their home in the Johan area of Qalat district by Pakistani security forces around 1:00 AM. Shortly after their abduction, they were found dead with bullet wounds. Their father, Abdul Ghani, is suffering from cerebral palsy. According to their mother, the Pakistani forces stormed their house, throwing grenades and opening fire before forcibly taking the brothers away. Moments later, gunfire was heard, and their lifeless bodies were found outside the house.
This horrific incident reflects the ongoing atrocities committed by the Pakistani military across Balochistan. The Paank human rights organization not only condemns these grave crimes but also calls for international accountability for the Baloch genocide. We demand that Pakistani forces be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity, based on the substantial evidence of their involvement in violent and inhumane acts.
Another tragic case occurred on September 13, 2024, when Hekmatullah Baloch, a teenager injured by Pakistani forces during a Baloch gathering organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee in Gwadar, died in a Karachi hospital. He had been shot during a protest in the Nushkay district on August 2, 2024. The peaceful protest was met with direct fire from Frontier Corps (FC) forces, resulting in the death of Hamdan Baloch and the severe injury of two others, including Hekmatullah.
On September 10, 2024, an unidentified body was found in the Nokandi area of Chagai district, and on September 21, two more unidentified bodies were discovered in the Miskan area of Kharan district. These gruesome findings point to a pattern of forced disappearances followed by the recovery of mutilated bodies across Balochistan.
Balochistan Government’s Fourth Schedule Policy in Response to Political Activities
The Balochistan government, with the leadership of police and military institutions, continues its oppressive policies. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and military aggressions—particularly in rural areas—are escalating. These actions have caused widespread mental distress in Baloch society, contributing to a rise in suicides among youth.
Human rights movements remain active and are demanding the Pakistani government put an end to these abuses. In Gwadar, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (Raji Muchi) was actively protesting these violations but was suppressed by Pakistani authorities through violent means. Properties, vehicles, and personal items belonging to protestors and political figures have been seized by the police, with no intention of returning them.
There was an agreement between the authorities and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee to release detained protestors in exchange for ending the Balochistan strikes and protests. However, instead of honoring the agreement, the government has intensified its crackdown on peaceful political activists.
A dangerous trend has emerged under the government’s Fourth Schedule policy, under which thousands of political workers, lawyers, doctors, students, and teachers have been placed under surveillance and restricted from movement. Many have been falsely linked to pro-liberation armed organizations. This is alarming, as it gives Pakistani forces legal cover to detain and persecute these individuals.
Under Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule policy, peaceful political activists have been falsely linked to armed organizations and labeled as suspicious individuals. This decision gives Pakistani forces greater authority to act arbitrarily, allowing them to justify the arrest, detention, and summons of any of these activists without proper cause.
Previously, Gulzar Dost, the convener of Balochistan Civil Society, was detained in his native area to prevent him from attending and working with the Raji Muchi during its activities.
It is evident that the Pakistani government is using these tactics to silence voices advocating for human rights, further deteriorating the human rights situation in Balochistan.
Statistics of Enforced Disappearances
The following districts reported cases of enforced disappearances and illegal detentions in September 2024:
| District | Cases |
|---|---|
| Kech | 5 |
| Awaran | 3 |
| Mastung | 3 |
| Sargodha Punjab | 1 |
| Quetta | 2 |
| Qalat | 2 |
| Gwadar | 11 |
| Kharan | 4 |
| Loralal | 2 |
| Chagi | 2 |
| Dera Ghazi Khan | 2 |
| Winder Lasbella | 1 |
| Panjgur | 3 |
| Total Cases | 41 |