Balochistan [Pakistan], July 26 (ANI): The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) unveiled its semi-annual human rights report for January to June 2025 during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, highlighting what it described as systemic and widespread state repression across Balochistan, according to The Balochistan Post (TBP).
Speaking to the media, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch emphasized that the report is not merely a compilation of figures, but a chronicle of collective suffering, injustice, and the collapse of constitutional protections in Baloch society. She noted that the findings are based on testimonies from victims’ families, eyewitnesses, and local human rights organizations, exposing a sharp rise in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
According to the report, 752 individuals were forcibly disappeared in the first half of 2025. Of those, 181 were eventually released, while 25 reportedly died in custody. The fate of 546 individuals remains unknown. The Makran region experienced the highest number of disappearances, with Frontier Corps (FC) personnel allegedly responsible for the majority, TBP reported.
The report also recorded 117 extrajudicial killings, largely occurring during staged encounters, custodial deaths, and “kill-and-dump” operations. Most victims were identified as students, activists, and politically conscious youth. BYC asserted that these killings reflect a calculated state policy aimed at suppressing political dissent in Balochistan.
The committee further highlighted the systematic use of torture against detainees. Evidence of severe physical abuse was reportedly found on the bodies of those who died in custody, indicating that torture serves not only as a means of interrogation but also as a tool of intimidation within Baloch communities.
Collective punishment was another major concern, with families of the disappeared frequently subjected to home raids, harassment, and physical assault—often targeting women. BYC warned that children in Balochistan are being raised in an environment dominated by fear and constant surveillance.
Additionally, the report criticized the misuse of legal provisions such as the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) and the Fourth Schedule, alleging that these laws are being employed to suppress peaceful activism. A 2025 amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, passed by the Balochistan Assembly, was flagged for granting unchecked powers to security forces, including detention without formal charges for up to three months. The inclusion of military officers on review boards has also raised concerns about the erosion of judicial independence.
BYC concluded by warning that such measures are increasingly being weaponized against journalists, students, and human rights defenders, signaling a deepening crackdown on civil liberties in the province.
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