We express deep concern over the alarming and recurrent cases of custodial and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan by the Pakistani military establishment in Balochistan. These disgraceful actions by the security agencies will worsen the political and human rights situations in the region.
In August 2023, seven members of a single family from Nali village in Balgatar, district Kech, were forcibly taken away by Pakistani security forces from various locations in Balochistan. The abducted individuals include Zaheer and Peer Jan, sons of Lashkaran; Shah Jan and Adil, sons of Assa; Ahmed Khan, son of Shogrullah; and Nabidad and Shaukat, sons of Lewari. According to local accounts, on November 19, Shah Jan, Adil, and Nabi Dad were among those abducted individuals ruthlessly assassinated by the security forces. Their bodies were placed in a vehicle that was subsequently detonated with explosives.
A few days later, on November 23, four other individuals confirmed to have been in the custody of security forces were killed in a staged encounter by the Police’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The identities of three victims—Shakoor Baloch, Saif Baloch, and Balach Mola Bakhsh—have been confirmed thus far. Family members of one victim, Balach Mola Bakhsh, reported that he was taken from his home by the CTD on the night of October 29th. Subsequently, on November 21st, the Counter-Terrorism Department presented him in court and obtained a 10-day remand. Even the CTD has corroborated that account.
The CTD in Balochistan has a history of orchestrating fake encounters resulting in the deaths of Baloch individuals in the custody of security agencies. These extrajudicial killings of Baloch people are likely to further intensify the sense of insecurity and injustice among the families of those who have been victims of enforced disappearance by the security agencies.
The recent abductions and custodial deaths are part of a broader pattern of widespread human rights violations and continuous breaches of international human rights law in Balochistan over the last two decades. There is a discernible pattern of Baloch individuals being arrested by the Frontier Corps (FC) and CTD, often violently, without being informed of the reason for their arrest. Despite a climate of fear and insecurity, relatives who sought information from army barracks, temporary military camps, or local police were often turned away, sometimes facing threats or violence. It appears that detainees are removed from custody and subsequently shot dead in staged encounters. The bodies of the victims are then disposed of secretly. This pattern strongly suggests that the victims are indeed killed in custody. It is imperative to conduct an independent and impartial investigation to gather testimonies regarding these extrajudicial executions in detention, assess the extent of the abuses, and identify the perpetrators responsible for these actions.
We have repeatedly highlighted that the silence of the international community and the UN has incentivized Pakistan to commit crimes against humanity in Balochistan without fear of accountability. Investigating, prosecuting, and ultimately convicting the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity is essential in combating impunity in Balochistan.
The Baloch issue must be addressed in accordance with international standards. It is crucial to emphasize that the pursuit of human rights is not solely a matter of sovereignty but a shared responsibility of the international community to safeguard the fundamental rights and dignity of all individuals, irrespective of their geographic location. The international community must take decisive action to address these widespread violations of human rights and ensure that any aid to Pakistan is conditional upon monitoring and compliance with human rights as enshrined in the UN Charter on Human Rights.
Baloch Human Rights Council 