Quetta, February 23 – As violence against civilians continues to escalate in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, a leading human rights organization reported that two farmers from the Surab area were killed after being subjected to enforced disappearance earlier this month, local media reported on Monday.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) stated that Taimoor, a 26-year-old farmer, was forcibly disappeared on February 9. The BYC alleged that Taimoor's body was later found discarded after being held in custody for several days, showing visible signs of severe torture, as reported by The Balochistan Post.
The group stated that families of those subjected to enforced disappearance in Balochistan are often concerned about their disappearance and potential mistreatment while in custody. According to the organization, victims allegedly faced torture in several cases of enforced disappearance before their bodies were discovered in remote locations.
The rights group said that Taimoor was a farming laborer who earned his livelihood through daily work. The group termed the killing of Taimoor a violation of international human rights law, including provisions under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) regarding the right to life and the prohibition of torture, and the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
In a separate case, the BYC said that Murtaza, a 31-year-old farmer, was detained by Pakistani Frontier Corps (FC) personnel on February 9 from the Mal FC checkpoint in Surab. The group alleged that Murtaza was arrested without a court warrant and without being informed about the charges he was facing. According to the organization, his family received no information about his whereabouts or condition after the arrest, as reported by The Balochistan Post.
The BYC mentioned that details about Murtaza's case were shared with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to obtain clarification from the Pakistani authorities regarding his fate. The organization stated that Murtaza's body was found on February 20, 11 days following his detention. According to the group, his body showed visible signs of severe torture, similar to other alleged cases of enforced disappearances reported in Balochistan.
The BYC said that Pakistani state institutions were responsible for what it termed the extrajudicial killing of Murtaza, and urged the United Nations and the international community to take notice of the case and demand a full, independent, and transparent investigation.
Last week, the BYC strongly condemned the alarming surge in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and staged "fake encounters" across Balochistan during the month of February.
In its latest report, the BYC confirmed that 19 individuals have been extrajudicially killed, while noting that additional cases have yet to be independently verified or officially documented.
"Children, youth, and elders are being targeted. Families seeking the truth face intimidation, harassment, and threats. The rights to life, liberty, security, and justice are being systematically and deliberately violated," it stated.
According to the rights body, due to severe restrictions on media coverage, limited social interaction, and an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, only a fraction of cases are formally registered or publicly documented.
Condemning the incidents, the BYC said: "These acts are unlawful, inhumane, and constitute grave violations of fundamental human rights. They represent a direct assault on the dignity, security, and collective existence of the Baloch people. Families across Balochistan are living in constant fear. Children, students, workers, and ordinary civilians are being targeted, abducted, and killed without explanation, due process, or accountability."
"Lives are being taken with impunity. We demand justice. Every life lost must be accounted for. Those responsible must be identified, investigated, and brought before independent courts of law," it added.
