3 weeks ago
Seven Baloch Students Forcibly Disappeared by Pakistani Forces in Karachi
Seven students from the Baloch community in Pakistan have gone missing after being taken by security forces.
Five of them were studying at a big university in Karachi and were taken from their home during a night raid.
People who protect human rights say the students were hurt before being taken away, and nobody knows where they are now.
Two other students had also disappeared earlier in the same week.
Human rights groups are very worried and are asking the Pakistani authorities to tell everyone where the students are.
They say it is against the law to make people disappear and that it hurts families very badly.
One leader said students are being treated like targets just for going to school.
There was also sadness because a child was reportedly killed in a drone strike in a different part of Balochistan.
Many people are calling for an end to these actions and for everyone to be treated fairly and safely.
Five Baloch students of the University of Karachi were forcibly disappeared during a raid on their residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, on Wednesday, reportedly by Pakistani intelligence agencies and Rangers.
The missing students were identified as Azhar Baloch, Ghos Baksh Baloch, Shehzad Baloch, Anees Baloch and Waseem Baloch.
Two earlier disappearances were also reported: MPhil student Khalil Baloch from the Karachi university premises and Zubair Baloch from the Hub region in Balochistan.
The Human Rights Council of Balochistan called on Pakistani authorities to disclose the students' whereabouts, ensure their safety, and release them unless produced before a competent court.
Baloch Voice for Justice alleged a drone strike by Pakistani forces in the Goru region of Balochistan's Khuzdar district killed a minor child.
- Who
- Seven Baloch students, including five identified as Azhar Baloch, Ghos Baksh Baloch, Shehzad Baloch, Anees Baloch and Waseem Baloch, allegedly taken by Pakistani intelligence agencies and Rangers.
- What
- Enforced disappearance of seven Baloch students, plus an alleged drone strike on a civilian area that killed a minor child.
- Where
- Karachi (Gulshan-e-Iqbal and university premises), the Hub region and the Goru region of Khuzdar district in Balochistan, Pakistan.
- When
- The residence raid occurred on Wednesday; the human rights organisation condemned the disappearances on Thursday.
- Why
- Human rights groups say the disappearances reflect a pattern of collective punishment and targeting of Baloch students amid intensified ground and aerial operations by Pakistani forces in civilian areas.
Human Rights Groups
Pakistani State (Implied)
Nature of the incidents
Human Rights Groups
The disappearances are a serious violation of international human rights law and a deliberate pattern of collective punishment targeting Baloch students.
Pakistani State (Implied)
The article does not include any official response; state forces are conducting intensified ground and aerial operations across parts of Balochistan.
Civilian casualties
Human Rights Groups
The drone strike in the Goru region was a targeting of a civilian area that killed a minor child and must end.
Pakistani State (Implied)
The article does not include any official justification or denial of the drone strike.
Key facts
- Number of disappeared students
- 7
- University of Karachi students missing
- 5
- Date of residence raid
- Wednesday
- Raid location
- Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
- Allegedly responsible forces
- Pakistani intelligence agencies and Rangers
- Separate drone strike location
- Goru region, Khuzdar district, Balochistan
- Demand from rights bodies
- Disclose whereabouts, ensure safety, release or produce before a competent court
Quotes
Sabiha Baloch, central leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)
Baloch community activist
“Young people who leave their homes to pursue education are being turned into targets. From university campuses to hostels and private residences, Baloch students continue to face the constant threat of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance.”
thehansindia.com
“Enforced disappearance constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law, depriving individuals of their rights to liberty, security, due process, and education while inflicting profound suffering on their families.”
thehansindia.com










