Young man dies in custody amid allegations of torture by Pakistani forces

A young man named Shahzaib Ahmed has died shortly after being released from custody of Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, with his family accusing authorities of severe torture during his detention. Shahzaib was identified as the son of Shareef Ahmed and a resident of Killi Qambarani in Quetta. His death has raised serious concerns about the treatment of detainees and the ongoing violence in the region.

According to Shahzaib’s family, he was detained during the Eid al-Adha holidays near Manguchar Dam while on a picnic with two neighbors. Their motorcycle broke down on the way home, and later that night, Pakistani security forces reportedly took them into custody. Shahzaib was released in critical condition, and he died within hours of being freed, prompting his family to allege that he had been subjected to brutal torture.

His family described visible signs of extreme torture on his body, including burns, broken arms, torn fingernails, and facial swelling. They further claimed that melted plastic had been poured onto his skin, boiling water had been forced into his mouth, and that during detention, the only food he was given was watermelon. Following his release, he was taken to the hospital by a friend but succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

In his final moments, Shahzaib reportedly told his family, “Not even infidels treat humans this way in war,” highlighting the brutality he endured. The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked outrage, with his family and human rights observers calling for accountability. The two other individuals detained with him are reported to be in critical condition, while one remains missing, raising fears of enforced disappearances and custodial abuse.

There has been no official response from Pakistani authorities regarding Shahzaib’s death or the allegations of torture. This silence comes amid a broader context of alarming reports of enforced disappearances and custodial deaths across Balochistan, where human rights groups say many victims are taken by state forces without due process and later found dead with signs of torture.

Earlier this month, five men who had been forcibly disappeared were found dead in separate incidents. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB), confirmed that two of these victims—Ali Muhammad and Nizar—were killed inside a military cantonment in Mashkay, while three others—Ali Baig, Jamal Bugti, Yousaf alias Wado, and Zahid—were recovered from Pyara Colony in Dera Bugti district.

In another case, the body of Salam, a resident of Dasht Kumbail in Gwadar, was returned to his family on June 15, two days after he was allegedly taken into custody. These cases exemplify the troubling pattern of disappearances and extrajudicial killings that continue to plague the region, with many victims’ families left without answers.

According to data from the Human Rights Council of Balochistan, 719 people were abducted in the first five months of 2025. Of these, 553 remain missing, 35 have been found dead, and only 129 have been released. These figures highlight the alarming scale of enforced disappearances and the impunity that surrounds such actions.

The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has also reported that at least 20 Baloch youths were extrajudicially killed in the first half of June alone. The group states that these killings were carried out either by Pakistani security forces or by local armed groups backed by the state, known as “death squads.” Such violence has become routine, they warn, contributing to a climate of fear and repression.

Human rights organizations, including the HRCB, have condemned these ongoing abuses as blatant violations of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). They argue that these practices violate Pakistan’s own constitution, specifically Articles 9 and 10, which guarantee the right to life, liberty, and due process. The groups have called for an independent international investigation into the widespread enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, urging urgent action from the United Nations and global human rights bodies.