Balochistan Horror: Student Missing for 6 Months as 'Death Squads' Alarm Rises
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee raises alarm over the disappearance of student Laiba Sattar and others in Balochistan, alleging death squad involvement.
A wave of fear has gripped Balochistan as the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) raises a loud alarm over the continuing trend of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The spotlight has now fallen on the harrowing case of Laiba Sattar, a 19-year-old FSc student who has been missing for over six months, leaving her family in agony and rights activists demanding answers.
The Disappearance of Laiba Sattar
Laiba Sattar, the daughter of Abdul Sattar, vanished under mysterious circumstances on the night of March 29, 2026. According to reports, she disappeared around 9 pm in the Kalat district. Despite the passage of half a year, her whereabouts remain a complete mystery.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has pointed a finger at what they describe as a "death squad"—armed groups that activists claim operate with the tacit support or protection of Pakistani state institutions. These squads are allegedly used to target political activists, human rights defenders, and ordinary civilians.
A Pattern of Targeting Women and Children
Laiba’s case is not an isolated incident. There is a growing and disturbing pattern of women and children being detained or disappearing across the region. Recent reports highlight several chilling encounters:
- The Lak Pass Incident: In July, three women from the same family—Rafia Bibi, Tania, and Javeria—were reportedly detained by Pakistani forces at the Lak Pass checkpoint while traveling from Kalat to Quetta. They remained missing for a week before returning home on August 6.
- The Gashkori Town Raid: On August 19, personnel from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Frontier Corps (FC) allegedly conducted a raid in Quetta’s Gashkori Town. During this operation, two women, Umaira and Najma, were detained along with two young children—one aged eight and another just one-and-a-half years old.
The Baloch Women Forum has strongly condemned these actions, noting that the detained family members were denied any contact with their relatives, and has demanded their immediate and safe recovery.
The Scale of the Crisis
The numbers provided by human rights monitors paint a grim picture of the security situation in the province. The BYC has documented a staggering 507 alleged enforced disappearances across Balochistan between January and June 2026 alone. Among those missing are 16 women, underscoring the vulnerability of civilians in the region.
As the search for Laiba Sattar continues, the case has become a symbol of the broader struggle for accountability and the protection of basic human rights in Balochistan.