Baloch activist killed in staged encounter

Balochistan

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly condemned the killing of Abdul Malik Baloch in what it calls a “staged encounter” in Zehri, Khuzdar district. Malik, who had been missing since October 11, 2024, was last seen when Pakistani forces allegedly abducted him from Turbat.

Authorities claimed he was killed during an operation against terrorists. However, his family and activists say he was a victim of enforced disappearance, and his body was later falsely labeled as that of a terrorist.

Malik’s family had actively participated in protests and sit-ins demanding justice for missing persons, including a March demonstration in Kalat where officials had promised answers within 15 days. Instead, they received his bullet-riddled body.

The BYC accused the state of using brutal force — killings, torture, and abductions — to suppress the Baloch people and extend its control over the resource-rich region. “The state is terrorizing an entire nation to prolong exploitation,” the committee said in a statement.

They urged all Baloch citizens to resist oppression and honor Malik’s memory by continuing the struggle for justice and autonomy. The committee described Balochistan’s situation as a deepening human rights crisis, marked by repression, disappearances, and killings of activists and civilians.

Internet shutdowns, poor infrastructure, and economic neglect worsen the region’s plight, despite its vast natural resources. BYC calls on all voices to rise and expose the violence targeting Baloch communities, demanding accountability for Abdul Malik and others who disappeared under similar circumstances.