The Balochistan Human Rights Council (HRCB) on Friday reported that around 50 people were murdered by Pakistan-sponsored death squads in Balochistan in April and expected a major jump in casualties for May.
"Pakistani forces murdered 43 individuals across Balochistan during April alone. Seven more people, including a journalist, have been killed in Awaran district alone in the last 10 days," the HRCB disclosed.
The group also reported a horrifying incident in Awaran district during the evening of May 26–27. Pakistani forces raided the Malar Machhi region, killing two civilians, Naeem Baloch and his aunt Hoori, and critically wounding Naeem's mother, Dadi Baloch.
"The raid was marked by forced entry into houses and indiscriminate firing after locals opposed illegal kidnappings. In spite of the critical injuries, Dadi Baloch was refused immediate medical treatment and was only hospitalised the following morning in a critical condition. This family has been subjected to targeted persecution for long: a 2015 aerial attack killed seven family members; Naeem was forcibly abducted in 2023; and Dadi was arrested earlier in 2015," the HRCB added.
Further, on the night of May 28, a Pakistan-backed death squad reportedly returned and attempted to abduct Dadi’s seven-year-old son.
In another incident early Friday, the HRCB reported that Mahjabeen Baloch—a student and polio survivor—was abducted by Pakistani police and plainclothes officers from the Civil Hospital Hostel in Quetta. Just five days earlier, her brother Younus was taken by the Pakistani military from their home in Besima, Washuk.
Denouncing these abductions, the human rights organization raised serious concern and called for the immediate release of those held, maintaining that if charges are to be made, the accused be brought before a court of law.
The HRCB also condemned the murder of Abdul Latif Baloch, an experienced journalist gunned down by Pakistan-backed death squads on May 24 while sleeping at his residence in Mashkay, Awaran district.
Latif worked as bureau chief for Daily Intekhab in Awaran for more than 30 years and wrote for a number of prominent media outlets. His critical reporting frequently got him targeted by the Pakistani army. He had been forcibly taken by security forces twice," the rights body stated.
"This wave of violence is part of the state's continued campaign to silence political activists and journalists in Balochistan. HRCB blames the Pakistani military establishment for the murder of Latif and ongoing harassment of his family. We urge immediate international intervention, accountability, and justice for Abdul Latif Baloch and all victims of state violence in Balochistan," it further added.
Last month, HRCB reported an escalating crackdown by Pakistan's security and intelligence agencies on human rights defenders, political activists, journalists, academics, students, and families of victims of enforced disappearance.
The report documented the deployment of violent home raids against BYC leaders, illegal arrests, enforced disappearances, detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, and the creation of police cases.
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