Paank releases monthly report on Baloch atrocities for October 2023
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Quetta: Security forces bring 3 dead bodies to a hospital
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In its monthly report on human rights violations in Balochistan for October 2023, PAANK, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, has shed light on a range of concerning incidents that underscore the ongoing human rights abuses in the region.
The report reveals that numerous cases of enforced disappearances came to light last month, with a total of 34 such incidents documented in PAANK’s October 2023 report. The report accuses Pakistani forces of unlawfully and extra-judicially detaining thousands of Baloch individuals, including those 34 cases, raising serious questions about the conduct of the authorities.
Additionally, the report highlights a distressing wave of extrajudicial killings by Pakistani forces, in which two detainees and missing persons were tragically killed in a staged encounter. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police has claimed responsibility for these killings.
Despite the challenges, the report notes that protests and demonstrations were organized throughout the month by various human rights groups and affected families. For instance, the family of student leader Shabbir Ahmed held a protest in Karachi, demanding his safe return. Furthermore, a seminar was conducted to address the issue of enforced disappearances involving human rights activist Rashid Hussain.
The report by PAANK also highlights a few notable human rights cases, such as the enforced disappearance of Ali Asghar in June 2000 and the release of Abdul Hameed Zehri, who had been forcibly disappeared but was released on October 31, 2023. In both cases, the families continued their pursuit of justice, yielding varying outcomes.
PAANK’s report expresses concern over the enforced disappearance of Safar Ali, a 10-year-old from Hub, Balochistan, and the apprehension of Farid Baloch, a student at Punjab University, under circumstances resembling a kidnapping. According to PAANK, after Farid’s arrest, a false First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against him, accusing him of drug trafficking within the university.
In sum, PAANK’s report provides a detailed overview of the significant human rights challenges faced by the residents of Balochistan during October 2023. It calls upon international organizations to address these issues promptly and take decisive action to ensure the protection and advancement of human rights.
