Rights organization reveals three of the five victims in Panjgur operation had been enforced disappearances

A rights organization has raised concerns over the recent military operation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, revealing that three of the five men reported killed were previously subjected to enforced disappearances. The organization highlighted the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region.

Pakistan’s military described the operation as an “intelligence-based” mission carried out in Panjgur district on August 10. According to official statements, the forces targeted suspected members of Baloch armed groups in the area. The military claimed that during the operation, they recovered weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices, which were subsequently destroyed at the scene.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s official media wing, stated that the operation resulted in the deaths of five individuals. However, the military did not publicly identify the identities of those killed, citing operational security reasons. Initial media reports indicated that the operation took place in the Sarkini and Chedgi areas of Panjgur.

State media sources quoted security officials who alleged that among those killed was an alleged commander of the armed groups operating in the region. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the operation, claiming that it eliminated five armed group members, including a commander, thus marking it as a significant security achievement.

Following the operation, five bodies were recovered from the Chedgi area and transported to the District Teaching Hospital in Panjgur for identification and legal procedures. The hospital authorities initially identified two of the bodies as Hafiz Mudassar and Peer Jan, son of Kachkol, based on preliminary assessments.

The human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, known as Paank, later identified one of the victims as Sohaib Baloch. They stated that all three identified victims had been subjected to enforced disappearances prior to their deaths. Paank emphasized that Sohaib Baloch had been missing since February 8, 2023, and Peer Jan since June 10, 2026.

The identities of the other two bodies remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting, fueling fears of further disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region. Human rights advocates expressed concern over the pattern of enforced disappearances followed by mysterious deaths in Balochistan.

Paank criticized the ongoing trend of forcibly disappearing individuals and then later discovering their bodies, often attributing their deaths to security operations or armed encounters. The rights group called for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killings to establish accountability.

The organization also demanded the authorities disclose the whereabouts of all missing persons in Balochistan. They urged the Pakistani government to ensure that detainees are presented before courts, granted due process, and given fair trials in accordance with legal standards.

In conclusion, human rights groups continue to highlight the urgent need for accountability and transparency regarding enforced disappearances and killings in Balochistan. The recent incident underscores the ongoing tensions and the human rights concerns in the region, calling for international attention and justice for the victims.