Family protests with body of youth supposedly killed by government-backed group

The family of Karim Baloch, who was allegedly killed by members of a government-backed “Death Squad,” has organized a sit-in protest in Turbat city, located in Balochistan’s Kech district, bringing his body with them.

Reports indicate that the grieving family, along with Baloch activists, transported Karim’s body from Tump—where he was reportedly murdered—to the M-8 Highway at D-Baloch Cross in Turbat to stage a protest demanding justice. They expressed that their journey from Tump to Turbat was driven by a need for accountability, particularly since two of their young children had also been killed by the same attackers. However, they claim that no steps have been taken to apprehend the perpetrators.

In their appeal to the people of Turbat, the family urged the public to join their protest, emphasizing the importance of collective action to demand justice for the targeted killings of Baloch youth. They highlighted that widespread support is essential to putting an end to the violence.

Balochistan has long faced issues such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systemic repression against those advocating for greater autonomy or independence. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented numerous instances of forced abductions, disappearances, and killings of Baloch activists, intellectuals, and students by both state security forces and allied militias.

A particularly controversial aspect of this repression is the alleged existence of government-backed Death Squads. These militias, reportedly supported by Pakistan’s security agencies, are accused of targeting Baloch political activists, journalists, and intellectuals. According to Baloch nationalist groups and human rights organizations, these squads are primarily aimed at undermining the decades-long Baloch independence movement.

The rise of these militias is seen as part of a broader state strategy to suppress dissent in Balochistan. Analysts argue that these groups operate with impunity, often preying on those critical of the government or suspected of supporting nationalist movements. Many individuals who are forcibly disappeared later turn up dead, often bearing signs of torture, while others remain missing without any justice or accountability.

Human rights organizations have consistently called for international intervention and independent investigations into the activities of these Death Squads. Amnesty International has repeatedly urged Pakistani authorities to end enforced disappearances and hold those responsible for extrajudicial killings accountable. The United Nations has also raised alarms over the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan.

Baloch nationalist leaders and activists contend that the systematic targeting of youth like Karim Baloch is part of a broader strategy to instill fear among the population and suppress their aspirations for self-determination. They warn that, without international pressure and accountability, these killings are likely to continue unchecked.