As violence escalates in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a human rights organization reported the killing of two farmers from Surab who were subjected to enforced disappearance earlier this month. Taimoor, a 26-year-old farmer, was forcibly disappeared on February 9, and his body, showing signs of severe torture, was later found. Families of the disappeared individuals in Balochistan often fear mistreatment while in custody, with victims facing torture before their bodies are discovered.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) highlighted that Taimoor, a laboring farmer, was killed in violation of international human rights law, including the right to life and the prohibition of torture. In a separate incident, Murtaza, a 31-year-old farmer, was detained by Pakistan’s Frontier Corps personnel without a court warrant or information on charges. His body, displaying signs of severe torture, was found 11 days after his detention, similar to other cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
BYC shared details of Murtaza’s case with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to seek clarification from Pakistani authorities. The organization held Pakistan state institutions accountable for what it termed the extrajudicial killing of Murtaza and urged the international community for a transparent investigation. The BYC condemned the rise in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and staged encounters in Balochistan, calling for justice and accountability for the victims.
