The blood-soaked soil of Balochistan has once again borne witness to the devastating consequences of Pak Army’s oppression. Zakir Baloch, an educated young man and former businessman, became the latest victim of the Pakistan Army’s cruel tactics of enforced disappearances and systematic violence. Once peaceful, Zakir was transformed into a revolutionary, ultimately martyred during a recent clash with Pak forces in the Sabz Koh region of Panjgur.
Zakir’s tragic journey began on December 17, 2023, when he was forcibly abducted from the Dhore checkpoint in Gwadar by Pak authorities. For six excruciating months, his family fought for his release, organizing protests, blocking the CPEC route, and enduring Army-backed authorities’s intimidation and violence. His sisters, who stood at the forefront of the protests, were subjected to police brutality—yet another heinous act to crush dissent at any cost.
Despite the family’s relentless efforts, the so-called justice system of Pakistan remained deaf to their cries. Zakir was eventually released on April 5, 2024, but not before enduring inhuman torture during his detention. The scars of his ordeal, both physical and emotional, were compounded by the occupying-state’s unrelenting persecution of his family.
Zakir’s Tragic Tale
The torment inflicted by the Pak Army and the oppressive machinery left him with no choice but to take up arms against his oppressors. In recent days, Zakir fought valiantly in a face-to-face battle with Pakistan Army before being martyred, seeking justice in the only way the victims know how.
Zakir’s story is not unique but emblematic of the plight of countless Baloch youths who are systematically targeted, abducted, tortured, and forced to endure unspeakable hardships. The Pak Army and the establishment have perfected the dark art of silencing voices in Balochistan, using enforced disappearances as a weapon to instill fear. But their ruthless oppression is backfiring, as more and more educated youth, like Zakir, are being driven to the path of resistance.
The Paki establishment’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. While it peddles the illusion of democracy and human rights to the world, its actions in Balochistan reveal the brutal truth. The so-called guardians—the Pakistan Army and intelligence agencies—have become the architects of misery in Balochistan, turning a land of peace into a battlefield of their own making.
The tragic death of Zakir Baloch should serve as a wake-up call for the international community.