The largest and most resource-rich region in Pakistan, Balochistan, has long been a hotbed of violence and human rights issues. There has been a recurring nationalist insurgency in the region for many years, with separatist militants calling for an independent Balochistan. The security forces of Pakistan have responded by launching massive counterinsurgency operations, which have drawn harsh criticism for suspected abuses of human rights, including enforced disappearances. The state agents arrest, detain, or kidnap people and then refuse to reveal their location or destiny, which can be considered as an enforced disappearance.
Women led movement
The state security agents had forcibly abducted many people and didn’t provide any information to family or relatives. Thousands of these occurrences have been documented in Balochistan within the last 20 years. Uncertain of whether their loved ones are dead or alive, families of the disappeared are placed in a terrifying state of uncertainty. As a result, the popular 1,000-mile march organised by Sammi Deen Baloch, daughter of Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch (who was kidnapped in June 2009 while working at a public hospital in southeastern Balochistan) from Balochistan to Islamabad in December 2023, which exposed the secrets of disappearances. However, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the masses, and at least 200 protestors were arrested as a result of the harsh response to their demonstration.
Since 2004, the non-profit Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has documented almost 7,000 instances of enforced disappearances. Even according to the government’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, as of January 2024, 2,752 cases were still pending in Balochistan.
Women have been key players in protest movements, spearheading marches and coordinating campaigns to call for justice. Their bravery and tenacity represent the impacted communities’ tenacity in the face of overwhelming social and political adversity. International human rights organisations have frequently urged Pakistan to address the problem of enforced disappearances. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported on several cases and called on the Pakistani government to initiate action against disappearances.
Sammi Deen Baloch holding a placard saying ‘Eid, What I tell you, I have lost people who were my Eid’
Persistent reports of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and a lack of accountability in Balochistan sparked concerns during the United Nations Human Rights Committee reviewed Pakistan’s adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) for the second time in October 2024. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has voiced a similar alarm, which highlighted the absence of government action to prosecute those responsible for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in Balochistan in a September 2024 report on the ongoing trend.
The province is at the centre of significant development due to minerals, gas and initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). These initiatives have resulted in further militarisation and community relocation despite their promise of economic progress. Many residents see such activities as exploitative and harmful to their rights and livelihoods, which has increased tensions and contributed to the cycle of violence and disappearances.
Lack of State Action
Balochistan’s enforced disappearance problem is a serious human rights issue that requires immediate action. Thousands of families are still in agony, not knowing what will happen to their loved ones. The problem has gained international attention primarily due to the Baloch diaspora. Diasporic communities have used digital channels, coordinated protests, and advocated for human rights violations in Balochistan. They aim to pressure Pakistani leaders and the international community to end the crisis decisively. A bill to criminalise coerced disappearances was passed in 2021, although it hasn’t been put into effect yet. Due to a lack of political will and accountability systems, courts have issued directions to address the problem, but these actions have failed.
However, guaranteeing the fundamental rights of every person in the region requires efforts from Pakistani authorities and the international community. The cycle of violence and repression in Balochistan can only be stopped by openness, responsibility, and sincere participation of the judiciary. In conclusion, there are still a lot of issues with the human rights situation in Balochistan, even though there is more international attention and activism. To guarantee accountability, justice, and the defence of fundamental rights for every person in the region, both domestic authorities and the international community must make consistent efforts to address enforced disappearances.
