PAANK, the human rights division of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has reported a concerning rise in grave human rights violations across Balochistan during March 2025. The report documents 181 enforced disappearances and 12 extrajudicial killings.
According to the monthly report, Pakistani forces and affiliated death squads abducted and forcibly disappeared a large number of individuals, primarily targeting students, social activists and civil society members. PAANK stated that 87 of the abducted individuals were later released, many of whom bore clear signs of severe torture. The report highlights that these arrests were often carried out without legal warrants or judicial procedures.
PAANK provided further details, stating that the highest number of enforced disappearances occurred in Quetta (Shal) and Kalat with 37 cases. Other affected regions include Dera Bugti (18), Gwadar (15), Noshki (13), Dera Ghazi Khan (10), Kech (9), Barkhan (8), Awaran (7), Karachi (6), Sibi (2), Lasbela (5), Mastung (4), Panjgur (3), and Naseerabad (2). Additionally, one case was reported from Islamabad, Kachhi, Jafarabad, Jacobabad and Khuzdar.
The report points out that several individuals killed extrajudicially had previously been victims of enforced disappearance. Among them was Nizam Baloch, who was abducted on March 11 from Galli, Buleda and whose body was found the next day. His brother, Shah Nawaz Baloch, was later shot dead in Kech. Another victim was Shah Jehan Kurd, brother of Zahid Baloch, a forcibly disappeared leader of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO); he was killed in Nal, Khuzdar.
A tragic incident occurred on March 21 during a peaceful protest demanding the release of missing persons. PAANK reported that 12-year-old Nemat Baloch, along with Habib Baloch and Imdad Baloch, were shot dead during the demonstration. PAANK called Nemat Baloch’s martyrdom “a symbol of state oppression.”
On March 23, Ehsan Baloch a BYC activist and shopkeeper was killed in Khuzdar. PAANK termed this a “planned target killing.” A few days later, on March 26, the tortured bodies of Tosif, Zaheer and Irshad Baloch all previously abducted were found in Mashkay. PAANK also reported that the bodies of Saif Baloch and Anas Baloch, who had been missing for months, were discovered at the end of March.
The report also highlights the illegal arrest of prominent political activists including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Bibgar Baloch and Shah Ji Sabghatullah Baloch. They were detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Act and transferred to Huda Jail in Quetta.
PAANK expressed deep concern over the secret burial of 13 unidentified bodies in Kasi graveyard, suspecting they may belong to individuals previously subjected to enforced disappearance. The organization has called for immediate forensic investigation into these burials.
Condemning the ongoing state repression as a blatant violation of international human rights laws, PAANK has urged the United Nations and global human rights organizations to intervene urgently and hold the Pakistani state accountable.
