Abid Baloch's shooting death highlights rise in enforced disappearances in Balochistan

Recently, a youth, who was subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistani security forces, was injured in a firing incident in Turbat, Kech district of Balochistan, according to Balochistan Post.

The report said that unidentified armed assailants opened fire on the victim near Mehar-e-Hotel in Turbat's Apsar area and seriously injured him. The injured man has been identified as Abid, son of Washdil. Abid, a resident of Apsar and working at a puncture repair shop, was abducted by the Pakistani Army in March 2023 and was held captive for ten months before being released.

The attack has raised serious concerns about a possible new strategy to target people who have previously been forcibly disappeared. Last month, a similar incident occurred in Singani Sar, where the intended victim narrowly escaped.

Another man, Imtiyaz Iqbal, was targeted in Apsar on August 17, 2024. Imtiyaz was earlier subjected to enforced disappearance on May 17, 2024.

Famous Baloch activist Dr. Mehrang Baloch condemned the violence on Christmas. He said“Abid Baloch, who was recently subjected to enforced disappearance, was shot and seriously injured in Turbat. This is the third attack of its kind in the last two months. We demand immediate action to stop this violence in Balochistan.”

The human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, PANK, also expressed concern over the incident, highlighting an ongoing pattern of violence and intimidation against people who are forcibly disappeared and later released in Balochistan, as well as social activists. The organisation said this is the third such incident in Kech in the past two months.

We are deeply concerned by the recent incident in Kech, Turbat where a young man, Abid s/o Washdil, was severely injured in firing by state-sponsored attackers. Abid, who was recently released after being forcibly disappeared by the Pakistan Army on March 21, 2023,… pic.twitter.com/SRVOkDWIkx

— paank (@paank_bnm) August 25, 2024

In a statement on Christmas, Punk urged Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the attack and hold those responsible accountable.

The organisation stressed the need for urgent action to protect the lives and rights of all civilians, especially those subjected to enforced disappearances. “Persistent impunity for such attacks further fuels cycles of violence and fear in the region,” the statement said.