Quetta, March 23 – A leading human rights organization strongly condemned on Monday the forced disappearance of another student in Balochistan by Pakistani forces.
The latest incident comes against the backdrop of a growing wave of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings across the province.
Citing sources, the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement, Paank, stated that Mumtaz Baloch, a student of the Balochi Literature and Language department at the University of Balochistan, was forcibly disappeared from the Abpsar area of Turbat in the Kech district by personnel of Pakistan's Frontier Corps.
According to an eyewitness, Mumtaz was detained without any legal warrant or due process, while his whereabouts remain unknown.
"Mumtaz Baloch is a resident of Zeek Geshkore in the Awaran district and is known among his peers as a committed student with a passion for preserving and promoting the Balochi language and literature. His disappearance reflects a disturbing and ongoing pattern in Balochistan, where students, intellectuals, and civilians are frequently subjected to arbitrary detention and forced disappearance," Paank stated.
Expressing grave concern over the increasing targeting of students and academic voices in Balochistan, the rights body said, "Such actions not only violate fundamental human rights but also suppress intellectual freedom and cultural expression. Forced disappearances are a clear violation of international human rights laws, including protections against arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial."
Paank called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Mumtaz, ensure his safe release, or present him before a court of law if any charges exist. It also demanded that the practice of forced disappearances in Balochistan be ended and those responsible for this "unlawful act" be held accountable.
The rights body appealed to international human rights organizations, including the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, to take immediate notice of this case and pressure the Pakistani authorities to uphold their human rights obligations.
Reiterating its commitment to document human rights violations and advocate for justice for victims and their families, Paank said, "The continued silence and inaction in such cases only embolden perpetrators and deepen the crisis of human rights in Balochistan."
