Balochistan

The Baloch Women Forum (BWF), an organization advocating for Baloch women’s rights, has strongly denounced the illegal detention of Baloch girls by security forces in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, Pakistan. According to the BWF, these actions, carried out by the military in collaboration with local authorities, reveal the state’s intentions to deprive the Baloch people of their rightful freedoms. They have warned of severe consequences if immediate action is not taken to resist these injustices.

In a statement released on X, the BWF expressed condemnation over the unlawful detention of Baloch girls, including Saira Baloch and Sadia Baloch, by security forces in Khuzdar. They described these acts as immoral and illegal, highlighting the government’s clear agenda to suppress Baloch voices and rights. The BWF emphasized the urgency of resisting such oppressive state policies to prevent further hardships for the Baloch community.

The detentions occurred amidst tensions sparked by a peaceful pamphlet distribution campaign for the ‘Baloch Raaji Muchi’ (Baloch National Gathering), aimed at uniting the Baloch people against Pakistan’s alleged atrocities, such as enforced disappearances, torture, targeted killings, and economic exploitation.

The arrests, reportedly conducted by Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, have provoked outrage among activists and rights groups, including the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). Saira Baloch, sister of the disappeared individuals Asif and Rasheed, and Sadia Baloch, sister of Salman, are among those detained.

Human rights organizations and activists, including PAANK from the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), have strongly criticized these detentions, highlighting ongoing concerns over state repression of Baloch dissent.