Balochistan – A 20-year-old man from Balochistan has been found dead months after his alleged detention by security authorities, according to claims made by a prominent regional human rights group. The development has once again drawn attention to reports of enforced disappearances and targeted killings in the province.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee said on Wednesday that the body of Muhammad Fareed Baloch was recovered on February 6. The group alleged that he had been held for several months by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department before his death.
Fareed, who was 20, lived in the Killi Safar Ali Jangle area of Duki district. According to the rights body, he worked as a farmer and supported his family after his father reportedly went missing in a separate incident of enforced disappearance. His relatives had been searching for him since June 4, 2025, when he was allegedly taken from his home by security personnel.
Family members spent nearly eight months seeking information about his whereabouts, the organisation said, but claimed they received no official confirmation or legal documentation regarding his detention during that period.
In a statement, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee described the incident as part of what it called a broader pattern of enforced disappearances and unlawful killings in Balochistan. The group argued that such actions violate fundamental human rights protections, including the right to life and due process.
The organisation appealed to the United Nations and international human rights institutions to examine the situation in the province and press for accountability. Pakistani authorities have not publicly responded to the specific allegations at the time of reporting.
Separate claims were also made earlier this week by Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement. The group reported another alleged extrajudicial killing along with multiple enforced disappearances in different parts of the province.
According to Paank, Yasir Lehri, identified as a tailor from Mastung district, was killed on February 2 during what the group described as an operation carried out by security forces. The organisation further alleged that his body was not returned to his family, preventing them from performing burial rites.
On the same day, Paank claimed that 15-year-old Dawood Lehri was taken into custody by personnel from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps in the Bachabad area of Mastung. His whereabouts remain unknown, the group said.
Further incidents were reported on February 9. Paank stated that Shahroz Baloch, a 22-year-old auto mechanic from the Lore Karez Sariab locality of Quetta, was detained during a raid allegedly conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department. No official details about charges or legal proceedings have been made public, according to the organisation.
In Awaran district, the group alleged that security personnel conducted a house raid the same day and detained Murad Bakhsh along with his two sons, Amjed Baloch and Lateef Baloch. Their current status has not been confirmed.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has long faced unrest and security challenges. Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, and civilian deaths during counterinsurgency operations. The government has previously maintained that its actions are aimed at combating militancy and ensuring national security.
Rights advocates continue to call for transparent investigations, judicial oversight, and safeguards to protect civilians. As allegations persist, the situation in Balochistan remains under scrutiny from domestic and international observers.
