Balochistan Crisis: Activist Slams Forced Evictions and Home Demolitions
Sammi Deen Baloch raises alarms over home demolitions, forced evictions, and supply restrictions affecting thousands in Balochistan.
The human rights situation in Balochistan has taken a dire turn, with Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch raising a loud alarm over systemic rights violations in Balochistan. According to reports, thousands of families are being uprooted from their ancestral lands through forced evictions and the demolition of their homes, leaving a trail of displacement and economic ruin across the region.
A Pattern of Displacement
Sammi Deen Baloch, whose father, Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch, was forcibly disappeared, has highlighted a harrowing pattern of displacement that has spanned decades. She alleges that these actions have severed the deep-rooted connection between the people and their traditional sources of income and ancestral territories.
The scale of these incidents in 2026 has been extensive, stretching across various districts. The reported demolitions and evictions have been recorded in:
- Mastung
- Gwadar
- Shoor Parod
- Nushki
- Chagai
- Kharan
According to the activist, the process has been brutal; while some residents were given orders to vacate, other entire settlements were demolished, leaving families with almost no time to find alternative shelter.
Strangled Supplies and Prolonged Curfews
Beyond the loss of physical homes, the crisis is compounded by severe restrictions on movement and essential supplies. Sammi pointed out that residents in areas such as Zehri, Mashkay, and Zamuran have endured prolonged curfews and road closures. These lockdowns have lasted for months, effectively cutting off access to food and other basic necessities, which has intensified the suffering of the local population.
Economic Collapse for the Poor
The impact is most devastating for impoverished families living in remote areas. These communities typically rely on small agricultural plots, crops, and livestock to afford basic healthcare, education, and food. When these families are suddenly displaced, their entire economic foundation is destroyed.
The activist argued that this sudden upheaval leaves families in a desperate struggle to find:
- Basic accommodation
- New sources of employment
- Schooling for their children in unfamiliar environments
Security vs. Human Rights
Addressing the justifications often used by the state, Sammi maintained that security considerations cannot be used as a shield to absolve authorities of their responsibilities toward displaced citizens. She emphasized that any relocation effort must be paired with:
- Adequate protection for the displaced
- Provision of alternative housing
- Sustainable livelihood opportunities
- Access to essential services
- Clear guarantees for a safe return to their lands
A Threat to Identity and Culture
The crisis extends beyond immediate humanitarian needs. Sammi Deen Baloch argued that removing communities from their ancestral territories without a clear path to return is an attack on their very identity. Such displacements undermine the ability of the Baloch people to preserve their culture, maintain community relationships, and exercise control over their own future.
Drawing from her own observations, she noted that families forced into unfamiliar cities often face extreme isolation and uncertainty, stripped of the support systems provided by their relatives and traditional community networks.