The Baloch National Movement’s (BNM) Human Rights Department, Paank, has released a report documenting alarming human rights violations in Balochistan during November 2024. The report reveals 98 enforced disappearances and 12 extrajudicial killings across 15 districts of Balochistan and Karachi, with Kech district alone accounting for 31 disappearances—the highest reported figure.
According to the report, the Pakistan Army and its affiliates continue to employ their “kill-and-dump” policy under the controversial ‘Operation Silence.’ This practice involves forcibly disappearing individuals, executing them extrajudicially, and discarding their bodies in remote locations to silence dissent. Among the 12 documented extrajudicial killings were Muhammad Nawaz, Ghulam Buzdar, and Jafar Marri, who were abducted and killed on November 6 in Musakhel. Bashir Ahmed, who had been missing since May from Gwadar, was found dead on November 23 in Awaran. A particularly distressing case involves 16-year-old Israr Baloch, detained by the Counter Terrorism Department and later killed.
The report emphasizes that these military tactics are not limited to targeting insurgents but also extend to civilians, fostering an atmosphere of fear and employing collective punishment. The military’s use of state-backed death squads, comprising criminal collaborators, further deepens the crisis. These groups not only engage in acts of violence but are also implicated in illegal activities such as theft and drug trafficking, operating with near-total impunity.
Communities across Balochistan remain devastated by the loss and uncertainty surrounding their loved ones. Paank’s data suggests that the actual number of disappearances and killings may be significantly higher, as many cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation.
The Baloch National Movement has called for urgent international attention to address the escalating violence and hold those responsible accountable. Human rights advocates warn that global intervention is critical to ending these atrocities and ensuring justice for the affected families and communities.
