Four Young Baloch Men Missing in Karachi
Amid Ongoing Disappearances in Balochistan
In Quetta, Pakistan, four young Baloch men have gone missing in Karachi amid ongoing issues of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The men, identified as Zain Baloch, Zareef Ahmed, Akram Baloch, and Anees Baloch, were reportedly detained by Pakistani forces after a raid on a hotel in Karachi. These individuals, residents of Panjgur, were in Karachi for medical treatment.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee confirmed the incident, stating that the men were staying in a hotel in Saddar, Karachi. Eyewitnesses reported that Karachi Police and officials in civilian clothing raided the hotel, tortured the hotel manager and the victims, and took the manager with them. Although the manager was later released, the four young men remain missing.
The Balochistan Post released a report for September, revealing 44 cases of enforced disappearances, with seven bodies recovered, many unidentified. Nineteen people were released after being detained. The highest number of disappearances was reported from Gwadar, with 11 cases, followed by Kech, Kharan, and other areas.
Balochistan faces ongoing issues rooted in historical, political, and socio-economic contexts, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture by state security forces. Activists and journalists face intimidation, and the Baloch people often feel excluded from political power, advocating for greater autonomy.
Doubts Revealed
Baloch -: Baloch refers to people from Balochistan, a region in Pakistan. They have their own culture and language.
Karachi -: Karachi is a large city in Pakistan. It is known for being a major financial and cultural center.
Pakistani forces -: Pakistani forces are the military and police in Pakistan. They are responsible for maintaining law and order.
Baloch Yakjehti Committee -: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a group that supports Baloch people. They work to raise awareness about issues affecting Baloch communities.
Enforced disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are taken away secretly by authorities. Their families often don’t know where they are or what happened to them.
Extrajudicial killings -: Extrajudicial killings are when people are killed without a legal trial. This is against the law and human rights.
Autonomy -: Autonomy means having the freedom to govern oneself. In this context, it refers to Balochistan wanting more control over its own affairs.