Rising Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan: Gwadar's Latest Abductions Highlight Crisis

Four individuals from the Kech district in Gwadar have allegedly been abducted by security forces, further intensifying the crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Human rights organizations accuse state agencies of using abductions to silence dissent, with families continuing protests for missing persons.

In the ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, four individuals from Gwadar have allegedly been abducted by security forces, according to The Balochistan Post. The missing persons are identified as Meraj, son of Noor Bakhsh; Ijaz, son of Hussain; Ayub, son of Hamza; and Doda Khalid.

These young men, close friends and residents of the Dasht Maksar area in Kech district, were reportedly detained and have since not been heard from. This case adds to the growing instances of enforced disappearances in a region heavily affected by alleged state-led abductions.

Human rights groups and activists have consistently raised concerns about individuals suspected of separatist sympathies being taken by security agencies without legal proceedings, The Balochistan Post reported. In Kharan district, families of Amanullah, Mohammad Dawood, and Arshad Ahmad continued their sit-ins for a second day.

PAANK, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), points out that enforced disappearances have become a tool to silence dissent in Balochistan, with students and young activists particularly at risk. The organization has highlighted incidents of torture, forced confessions, and extrajudicial killings among victims.

These enforced disappearances are part of a broader crackdown on dissent, with Baloch activists accusing military and intelligence agencies of orchestrating these abductions. This not only impacts the victims but also instills fear in local communities, further eroding trust in state institutions. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)