Balochistan Horror: Two More Men Forcibly Disappeared
Two more men have reportedly been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan's Mastung and Gwadar districts amid ongoing human rights protests.
The grim pattern of enforced disappearance in Balochistan continues as reports emerge of two more men being allegedly abducted by security forces from the Mastung and Gwadar districts. While two previously missing individuals have unexpectedly returned home, the fresh incidents have reignited fear and anger in a region already grappling with systemic human rights concerns.
Midnight Raids and Missing Youth
The latest reports, as detailed by The Balochistan Post, highlight the sudden and violent nature of these detentions. In Mastung, the tranquility of the Jangal Cross area was shattered around 1 am on October 12. Personnel from the Frontier Corps allegedly raided a residence and detained 26-year-old Muhammad Asif, the son of Lal Muhammad. Asif, who earns his living as a garage mechanic, was reportedly whisked away to an undisclosed location.
In a separate but equally chilling incident in the Gwadar district, a young student became the target. Rahim Lal, a 19-year-old son of Lal Bakhsh, was allegedly taken from his home in Ward No. 7 of Pasni. The abduction reportedly occurred around 1 am on June 27, with personnel allegedly belonging to the Pakistani military, Military Intelligence, and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) carrying out the operation. Like Asif, Rahim was transferred to an unknown location.
Glimmers of Hope: Two Men Return
Amidst the new disappearances, there have been two instances of recovery. Mumtaz Baloch, a resident of Mastung and son of Sultan Muhammad, reappeared in Quetta on October 16. He had been missing since June 5. Similarly, Abdul Ghaffar, son of Hussain from the Balagtar area of Kech district, was found in the Lasbela district's Uthal area on October 15. Ghaffar had allegedly been taken by Pakistani forces on October 9.
A Protest That Refuses to Die
These incidents unfold against the backdrop of one of the longest-running protests in the region. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) continues its vigil outside the Quetta Press Club, with the protest camp now entering its 6,391st consecutive day.
The struggle is deeply personal for many. The parents of Ghulam Haider, who vanished from Quetta's Eastern Bypass on March 12, recently attended the protest. Despite a commission ordering a case against security forces and the police recording eyewitness statements, the family remains in the dark about their son's fate. VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch has urgently called for the tracing of Haider and all other missing individuals.
The Alarming Scale of the Crisis
Data released by human rights organizations paints a devastating picture of the scale of enforced disappearances in the province:
- Baloch Yakjehti Committee: Documented 507 alleged enforced disappearances between January and June 2026. This figure includes 135 victims who were students, researchers, or teachers.
- Human Rights Council of Balochistan: Reported 87 cases in August alone, a number that includes 17 teenagers and eight women.
The persistent reports of midnight raids and undisclosed detention centers continue to fuel the demand for transparency and justice in Balochistan.