A police officer and a law student have become the latest victims of Pakistan’s increasing trend of enforced disappearances, with both individuals taken from Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area by unidentified personnel. The incident has sparked alarm, adding to the growing concerns over the systematic abduction of civilians, particularly in POB, amidst heightened military activity.
The missing individuals are identified as Hatem Baloch, a student at SM Law College, and ASI Dilwash Baloch, a member of the Airport Security Force. Reportedly, both were abducted from a residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal late at night by plainclothes men, without any explanation or formal charges.
Despite the family’s desperate calls for help, local authorities have refused to file a First Information Report (FIR), further frustrating efforts for accountability. The families of the missing men are now demanding their immediate release and justice for their unlawful abduction.
Over the past several months, Pakistan has witnessed an alarming rise in forced disappearances, with more than 110 people reported missing in October alone, and over 90 in November. The surge in disappearances comes amid the Pak Army’s ongoing crackdown in POB, as it intensifies operations against Baloch indepedent groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), particularly after last month’s deadly suicide bombing targeting Chinese nationals in Karachi.
The increase in disappearances is linked directly to the brutal tactics used by the military, particularly in regions like POB, where enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings have been part of the ongoing struggle between the Baloch nationalist movements and the Paki establishment. As the military operation escalates, civilians are being abducted under the pretext of counterterrorism efforts, with many not resurfacing for months, if ever.
Human rights organizations and political leaders have condemned these actions, pointing to the ongoing pattern of military oppression and the silencing of dissent in POB. The abduction of students, journalists, and activists—such as Hatem Baloch and Dilwash Baloch—reflects a broader crackdown on individuals demanding justice and an end to the persecution of marginalized communities. The Paki establishment’s brutal suppression of the Baloch population only further emphasizes its colonial mindset, aiming to silence dissent through force.