Quetta : Families of Baloch fighters Martyred in recent clashes with Pakistani security forces and alleged state-backed armed groups in Barkahan have accused authorities of refusing to release the bodies of their loved ones. In a press conference, the families appealed to the judiciary and human rights organizations to intervene and ensure the return of the deceased for proper burial.
According to the families, on June 6, 2025, they learned through media reports that Pakistani security forces had launched operations in several areas of Balochistan, including Barkhan, Bolan, Dasht, Mastung, and Spilinji. Official statements claimed that four individuals were killed in an armed encounter in Barkhan, with additional casualties reported in Bolan and Spilinji.
The relatives said they were not informed directly about the identity or fate of those killed and only became aware through news outlets. Upon hearing that the bodies were being held at the District Hospital in Barkahan, they traveled there on June 7 to identify and claim the remains for funeral rites.
However, hospital authorities reportedly informed them that due to a lack of cold storage facilities, the bodies had been transferred to the Sandeman Civil Hospital morgue in Quetta. The families then traveled to Quetta, where they were shown the bodies and confirmed their identities through photographs. Despite this, the hospital staff refused to release the remains, citing the absence of a court or government order.
On June 11, the families submitted a formal request to Magistrate No. 12 in Quetta, asking the court to order the release of the bodies. The magistrate directed the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to respond. CTD Quetta submitted two contradictory reports to the court, one acknowledging possession of the bodies and willingness to release them upon legal orders, and another stating they could not confirm the identities of the deceased and had transferred the bodies to Edhi Foundation as “unclaimed.”
The Edhi Foundation reportedly buried the bodies in the Dasht Mastung cemetery as unidentified individuals. Later, the case was redirected to Magistrate No. 10, who ruled on June 18 that the matter did not fall under his jurisdiction and referred the families back to either Magistrate No. 12 or the local magistrate in Dasht.
The families expressed frustration over the bureaucratic runaround and the lack of judicial support. “We have knocked on every door within the legal framework of the country,” one family member stated during the press conference. “But no one is willing to hear us or give us justice.”
They added that, despite all setbacks, they have now approached the Balochistan High Court, seeking intervention under constitutional and Islamic laws to receive the bodies and perform proper funeral rites.
In conclusion, the families appealed to the public, media, and human rights organizations to raise their voices on their behalf and ensure justice is delivered.
