Death squads and locally armed militia in Balochistan supported by the Pakistan Army have been accused of carrying out human rights violations like enforced disappearances and kill-and-dumps at the behest of the Pakistani security forces, Balochistan Post reported.
In exchange for their services, the Pakistani forces have given a free hand to these "death squads" throughout Balochistan.
Saqib Hassani, who heads a death squad, is accused of threatening to abduct a minor girl at gunpoint. Saqib reportedly tried and failed to kidnap the seven-year-old girl and threatened her father that they will pick her up at gunpoint if he refuses to give her up, Balochistan Post reported.
The gir's father, Ghulam Muhammad, said in a press conference that Saqib Hassani was threatening him and his family to hand over his daughter to him. He said that the man was fully intoxicated and flanked by armed guards who are provided to him by the law enforcement agencies.
Saqib Hassani belongs to the group which was previously headed by Hafeez Muhammad Hassani, who was allegedly picked up by the Pakistani forces in August 2016.
Major Naveed of the Pakistan Army has reportedly demanded 6.8 million rupees ransom for Hafeez's life. Major Naveed was reportedly given a life sentence by a military court in August 2019.
Hafeez used to traffic drugs throughout Balochistan with the help of Naveed. Naveed had once accused Hafeez of financial malfeasance and kidnapped him for a 6.8 million rupees ransom. The forces got the wind of the situation and fearing that their charade may come undone, they killed and buried Hafeez in a wilderness.
Saqib was then promoted as the head of Hafeez's death squad, the sources said, Balochistan Post reported.
Also Read | Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss reach final two in race to become UK PM
Baloch National Movement (BNM) Chairman Naseem Baloch expressed sympathy with Ghulam Muhammad and said that the incident befalling his daughter and his family is "heart-wrenching", adding that kidnapping threats and forced underage marriage cannot be tolerated.
He also said that examples of such inhumane incidents do not occur anywhere in the world, not even in the most anachronistic societies, but they have become commonplace in Balochistan due to the Pakistani security forces.
He said in a media statement that the death squads are involved in social crimes like enforced disappearances and harassment of Baloch women and children, Balochistan Post reported.
Pakistan Army killed Baloch missing persons portraying them as insurgents
Five of the nine men killed by the Pakistan Army in Ziarat district of Balochistan in the past few days have been identified as forcibly disappeared persons allegedly by the Pakistani forces.
Their families had registered them in missing persons' list and were protesting for their release since, Balochistan Post reported.
Pakistan Army carried out a military operation in Ziarat district and adjacent areas following the abduction and subsequent killing of an army Colonel by Baloch 'pro-independence' armed group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing for the Pakistani armed forces, claimed that the forces have killed nine of the BLA members during the operation in the Harnai area.
However, The BLA denied ISPR's claims in a media statement and said that the nine men have no connection with the group.
"Pakistani military's claims of killing freedom fighters of Baloch Liberation Army during its so-called search operation around Ziarat and Harnai areas are merely propaganda tactics to hide its catastrophic failures in Balochistan," BLA said.
The group said that not a single fighter was injured or harmed in any way during the operation, Balochistan Post reported.
ISPR also released photos of the alleged insurgents which show the men with a slovenly appearance -- their beards are scruffy and overgrown and their clothes are untidy.
The photos made rounds on social media, sparking a debate whether the nine men were actually insurgents or Baloch missing persons.
The bodies were moved to the civil hospital in Quetta for identification. Later, five of the nine were identified by their family members.
According to their families and the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), a campaign group for missing persons, "These men were forcibly disappeared by the Pakistani law-enforcement agencies and they were missing since."
Also Read | Imran slams Pakistan govt over prevailing economic crisis
The relatives of the missing persons from different areas of Balochistan are visiting the Quetta hospital for identification of the rest of the deceased.
Among the first to be identified was Shams Satakzai, who was taken away allegedly by Pakistani security forces five years ago and was in detention ever since.
Such "fake encounters" were reported earlier also in Balochistan where forces reportedly killed missing persons portraying them as insurgents.
Such incidents often occur when Baloch pro-independence armed groups carry out big attacks where the forces suffer heavy casualties or a senior army officer gets killed by insurgents.
The recent incident came at a time when BLA took away a serving Pakistan Army Colonel named Laeeq Baig from Ziarat and later killed him, Balochistan Post reported.
