Pakistani Forces Abduct Baloch Shopkeeper amid Rising Military Oppression

Zahid Baloch, a shopkeeper from the Lasbela district, was forcibly taken from his home by Pakistani forces. This incident underscores the Pakistan Army’s ongoing practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, with families calling for accountability and the safe return of their loved ones.

In a stark reflection of the Pakistan Army's oppressive hold on Balochistan, Zahid Baloch, a shopkeeper from Lasbela district, has reportedly been forcibly taken from his home by Pakistani forces. The Balochistan Post reported that Zahid, originally from Gresha, Khuzdar, had resided in Lasbela for years to support his family through his small business. His distraught family is now pleading for his immediate release.

This incident is part of a long-standing pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a region plagued by military control for years. The disappearance of Zahid Baloch highlights the troubling trend of targeting innocent civilians under the pretense of maintaining order. Zahid's family has expressed their anguish, demanding accountability and his safe return. 'We don't know where he has been taken or why. We just want him back safe,' a family member said to The Balochistan Post.

The actions of the Pakistan Army in Balochistan are indicative of a broader campaign to quash dissent and silence the local population. Thousands of families continue to wait for the return of their loved ones, who have disappeared often after being apprehended by security forces. Protests by these families have been met with apathy from the authorities, who deny responsibility. In a similar case, 16-year-old Muddasir from Turbat was also abducted by Pakistani forces just days before Zahid. The Kech Bar Association, to which Muddasir's brother Shema Sabir belongs, condemned the illegal detention, announcing a court proceedings boycott in protest.

Despite decades of protests, international attention, and rallies, the Pakistani government has largely ignored the pleas for justice in Balochistan. The military's unchecked power, facilitated by a complicit administration, has perpetuated an environment of fear, leaving innocent civilians like Zahid and Muddasir vulnerable. These escalating forced disappearances are egregious human rights violations, reflecting the Pakistan Army's ruthless methods to suppress the Baloch people's cry for fundamental rights and dignity.

(With inputs from agencies.)