The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) has unveiled a shocking report that documents a significant rise in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region for February 2025. This report reveals that human rights violations have intensified, particularly targeting students and political activists.
In its findings, HRCB recorded 144 cases of enforced disappearances, with 41 individuals released while 102 remain unaccounted for, and one confirmed killed. Additionally, the report indicates 46 killings, with 40 victims identified and six yet to be named.
Notably, among these cases, 136 people were abducted for the first time, while others endured repeated abductions. The perpetrators included The Frontier Corps, responsible for 125 cases, intelligence agencies linked to 13, and death squads in 4 instances.
The method of abduction is alarming, with most instances occurring during house raids—102 of the 144 cases involved such methods. Others were captured during preliminary detentions, at checkpoints, or summoned to camps, exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
Since the early 2000s, enforced disappearances have plagued Balochistan, predominantly affecting Baloch nationalists, political figures, journalists, and students. The abductions, often executed by security forces, leave victims in prolonged unsolved fates that often conclude with torture, death, and body disposals in isolated regions.
The Baloch people’s quest for autonomy, control over their resources, and cultural identity faces fierce resistance from the Pakistani state, which employs military strategies to stifle dissent. This climate of fear and repression highlights an unsettling trend, as enforced disappearances serve as a tool to silence opposition to state policies.
The Human Rights Council of Balochistan reports a disturbing increase in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, particularly targeting students and political activists. In February 2025, 144 disappearances were documented, with significant involvement from The Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies. The report reveals methods of abduction that persist in distressingly high numbers and highlights a longstanding human rights crisis affecting the Baloch people.
The Human Rights Council of Balochistan’s report paints a bleak picture of human rights in the region, showcasing the alarming rise in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. With a significant number of unresolved cases and the implications of state-sponsored violence, the situation remains dire for activists and the broader Baloch community. The quest for autonomy amid continuous military operations underscores the urgent need for global awareness and intervention.
Original Source: www.tribuneindia.com
