The relatives of Zakir Dashti, who was reported missing from the Panjgur district of Pak-occupied-Balochistan, staged a protest on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway, effectively halting traffic. The demonstration was sparked by the lack of action from occupied-authorities regarding Dashti’s disappearance, which his family says occurred two days prior when he was abducted by armed men.
The protest took place at Suradak, where family members blocked the road, demanding the immediate recovery of Zakir Dashti. The gathering included women and children, underscoring the widespread concern within the community.
Furthermore, two young men, Mahboob son of Abul Hassan and Wahab son of Majeed, have gone missing after being arrested by Pak Army at the Duro Kandag check post in Gwadar. Reportedly, they were taken into custody and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being.
The actions of the Pak Army in this case echo a disturbing pattern of enforced disappearances that has plagued POB for years. Family members and local activists have long suffered by the hands of the military for abducting individuals without accountability, often leaving families in anguish as they seek answers about their loved ones’ fates.
This incident is the latest example of the Pakistan Army’s brutal suppression tactics against the Baloch community, a long-standing practice. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the notorious “kill and dump” policy have become hallmarks of the military’s strategy to stifle dissent and silence calls for Baloch autonomy since it forcefully occupied the region in 1948.