Tragic discoveries highlight ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan

The bodies of four Baloch individuals, previously abducted by Pakistani state authorities, were found across different regions of Balochistan within a 24 hour.

On December 1, the bullet-riddled bodies of two men, Faqeer Jan and Asa Baloch, were discovered in the Buzdad Berberki River area of Awaran. Both men had been forcibly disappeared months earlier, marking a continuation of the disturbing trend of extrajudicial killings disguised as staged encounters.

Faqeer Jan, a resident of Kunri Buzdad, was abducted on September 26, 2024, after being detained by Pakistani forces. Asa Baloch, from Paho, had been missing since February 17, 2023.

In a separate incident, the remains of two Baloch individuals, Abid Hussain and Masti Khan, were recovered on December 2 in the Gazan Kocho area of Khuzdar, Balochistan. The victims, who had disappeared eight years ago, were identified through slips found with their remains.

Abid Hussain’s family reported that he was abducted on October 28, 2017, from Anjira Cross in Khuzdar by a powerful figure’s deputy, Mulla Mureed. This deputy allegedly handed him over to state institutions. After receiving his son’s mutilated body, Abid Hussain’s father, Ghulam Hussain Umrani, expressed deep gratitude, stating, “Today, after eight years and one month, I received my son’s mutilated body. My family has endured so much pain and suffering during all this time, and today, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

While the exact date of Masti Khan’s abduction remains unconfirmed, it is believed he was taken around the same time as Abid Hussain. The discovery of their remains concludes a tragic chapter for the families, who have tirelessly sought answers from authorities with little progress. Abid Hussain’s mother had shared her painful story at the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) camp in Quetta in 2021, seeking assistance in locating her son. Unfortunately, the family received no updates until the recent recovery of his remains.

This series of discoveries highlights the broader issue of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings plaguing Balochistan. Over the years, countless activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens have been abducted, with state institutions or their proxies often implicated. Many of these victims later turn up dead in remote areas, with no accountability for their deaths.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned the brutal killings of Abid Hussain and Masti Khan, stating that they were abducted by Pakistani forces while traveling to Khuzdar eight years ago. The BYC also highlighted that Faqeer Jan and Asa Baloch were tortured and executed in a staged encounter by Pakistani forces before their bodies were dumped in Awaran.

“These heinous acts highlight the ongoing dehumanization and systemic targeting of Baloch individuals. Justice must be served, and the perpetrators held accountable for these war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the BYC stated. They called on the global community and human rights organisations to spotlight these crimes and abuses.