The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has expressed deep worry about the recent cases of enforced disappearances involving Baloch women and young girls in Balochistan and Karachi. Four women, namely Husseina Baloch, Gul Bano, Samina Baloch, and Khadija Baloch, have reportedly been taken into custody from their residences and hostels, subsequently vanishing. The BWF emphasized that Balochistan has long been a focal point for human rights concerns, but the recent focus on women is particularly troubling, constituting a severe breach of international human rights standards and the rule of law.
The BWF has highlighted reports indicating that families of the affected individuals are allegedly being coerced into silence, offered compensation, and compelled to make public statements. Such actions, if true, are seen as contradictory to principles of justice, transparency, and respect for the victims’ dignity. The organization has underlined the broader societal implications of these incidents, warning that they could exacerbate insecurity and distrust, ultimately undermining social stability and harmony.
Calling for transparent and thorough investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances, the BWF has urged Pakistani authorities to promptly locate the missing persons and present them before the courts in adherence to legal procedures. It has further demanded the identification and accountability of those responsible under both national and international laws, while ensuring protection for affected families against any form of pressure or harassment. Meanwhile, a sit-in protest outside Bolan Medical College in Quetta has entered its third day, with demonstrators demanding the release of Khadija Baloch, who was allegedly abducted by Pakistani security forces.
