Quetta, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Baloch human rights organisations and activists have called on the United Nations and the international community to take concrete action over alleged enforced disappearances in Balochistan, as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances was observed on August 30.
The groups said the day carries particular significance for Baloch families, who, they alleged, continue to live with uncertainty over relatives who have disappeared from their homes and communities.
The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) said it had documented 9,130 cases of enforced disappearance across the province between January 2016 and July 2026. It cautioned that the figure may represent only a portion of the cases, citing difficulties in documenting incidents in areas under tight security control.
The Baloch Students Organisation (BSO)-Azad alleged that Pakistani military and intelligence agencies were responsible for continuing disappearances and urged international bodies and human rights organisations to hold Pakistani authorities accountable.
According to a post by the organisation on X, more than 800 Baloch students, political activists, teachers, doctors, labourers, shopkeepers and other civilians had allegedly disappeared during the first half of 2026. It said the reported victims included women, girls, children, elderly people and young people, with ages ranging from eight to 60 years. The organisation also cited the reported disappearance of a 1.5-year-old child, Zakir, from Mastung.
Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sabiha Baloch said enforced disappearances were not an issue for Baloch families to remember on a single day but a daily reality.
“Every day, Baloch families live with the fear that another loved one may be taken away and disappeared. Mothers wait for their sons. Children wait for their fathers. Families wait for answers that may never come,” she said in a post on X.
The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) also urged the international community to press Pakistani authorities for accountability and support efforts to end enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed annually on August 30. The UN designated the day in 2011 to raise awareness about enforced disappearances and honour victims and their families.
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