QUETTA: The release of Mahal Baloch after three years from a fabricated case exposes the bitter reality that state intelligence agencies and the military, in order to justify their policy of Baloch genocide in Balochistan, first forcibly disappear innocent civilians and then, to suppress public reaction and mislead international human rights organizations and the global community, label them as terrorists without evidence and subject them to media trials. Throughout this entire process from enforced disappearance to terrorism allegations the state fails to present even one percent of credible evidence.
After enforced disappearance, victims are subjected to extreme torture, threats, harassment and are then forced to record videos, presented through the media as criminals, despite the absence of any legal or concrete evidence against them.
On February 17, 2023, the CTD raided the home of Mahal Baloch. During the operation, all individuals present in the house were severely tortured and Mahal Baloch was forcibly disappeared after being tortured in front of her two minor children.
Subsequently, under a systematic plan, attempts were made to link Mahal Baloch with suicide bombing and armed organizations and multiple false charges were leveled against her. State institutions formally conducted her media trial. The DIG CTD held a press conference, mainstream media was invited and without any judicial investigation, Mahal Baloch was presented as a “terrorist.”
Mahal Baloch legally contested these allegations and, after three years, all charges have been proven false. No crime was established and no evidence emerged. Despite this, the fundamental question still remains: who will be held accountable for the false media trials, state propaganda and torture?
Recently, eight Baloch women have been forcibly disappeared by state institutions. There are serious concerns that they too will be subjected to similar torture, fabricated charges and media trials. This is not the first incident. Every time, allegations are made without evidence, every time, attempts are made to suppress the truth but ultimately, the truth does emerge.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee demands that the practice of enforced disappearances be stopped immediately, all forcibly disappeared persons especially women be released without delay, effective legislation be enacted against enforced disappearances and all individuals and institutions involved in enforced disappearances, false media trials and propaganda against victims and human rights defenders be held accountable.
