Balochistan [Pakistan], October 19 (ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over growing reports of civilian deaths and indiscriminate bombardments during ongoing Pakistani military operations in Zehri tehsil of Khuzdar district, Balochistan, according to The Balochistan Post.
In a statement shared on X, the HRCP condemned the alleged airstrikes that killed several civilians, including children, when a wedding ceremony came under fire. The rights body noted that residents’ movement had been severely restricted, with several towns “practically turned into no-go zones.” It urged federal and provincial authorities to conduct “an impartial and transparent investigation” and called for immediate access for journalists and observers to the conflict-hit areas.
The district has been under continuous military lockdown since mid-September, when the Pakistani army launched large-scale ground and aerial operations, purportedly to eliminate Baloch “pro-freedom” fighters. Eyewitnesses reported that tanks, drones, artillery, and helicopters were used extensively, causing widespread destruction and numerous civilian deaths.
The most recent strike, in the Moola Pass area, killed six people, including four children. Victims included Manzoor Ahmed, his two sons, a nephew, and Bibi Raheem with her young child. Two other minors were critically injured. In a video circulated locally, a distraught villager said the army attacked right after a funeral gathering: “The helicopters bombed our homes and slaughtered our children. What crime did they commit against the state?”
Earlier in September, air raids in Pandarani and Tarasani villages killed multiple civilians, including women and children, revealing a grim pattern of indiscriminate targeting. Large portions of Zehri remain sealed off under heavy troop deployment.
Locals report complete communication blackouts, shuttered markets, and a military takeover of the only hospital. Food and medicine shortages are severe, and a pregnant woman reportedly died due to the blockade, according to The Balochistan Post.
The situation underscores Pakistan’s persistent disregard for civilian lives and lack of transparency in its military actions. The HRCP and other observers have called for an immediate end to the siege, accountability for the killings, and unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies. (ANI)
About The Author
