The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has expressed serious concerns about the increasing cases of enforced disappearances, including women and children, allegedly conducted by Pakistani forces in Balochistan. The forum highlighted a recent incident on July 21 in Mastung district where security forces abducted six family members from their home. Among the victims were Bibi Rafia, her three young children, her brother Muhammad Arif, and her niece Bibi Nida.
The BWF condemned the rising trend of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, emphasizing that it is not an isolated incident but part of a broader issue affecting the region. Families have been enduring prolonged waits for the return of their missing loved ones, with no resolution in sight. The forum stressed that international law recognizes women and children as needing special protection, especially in situations of enforced disappearance.
Addressing the deteriorating situation in Balochistan, the BWF highlighted the severe abuses faced by individuals at the hands of Pakistani authorities. The forum described instances where people are held in undisclosed torture centers for extended periods, with some found dead or mentally incapacitated. The escalating human rights violations in the region underscore the urgent need for international organizations to intervene and address the ongoing abuses.
The Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) also denounced the enforced disappearance of student activist Jeeyand Baloch and another youth, Asif Baloch, along with their friends. The BSAC criticized these actions as illegal and inhumane, creating a climate of fear among Baloch students. The committee emphasized that such practices violate democratic principles and called for an end to these oppressive measures.
