The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has released its half-yearly human rights report for the first half of 2025 i.e till the end of June, accusing Pakistan of systematic repression and silencing of Baloch voices through enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch described the report as more than just numbers, but as a testament to collective suffering, injustice and the erosion of constitutional safeguards for Baloch society.
She said the findings draw on testimonies from victims’ families, eyewitnesses and local human rights organisations, which together paint a disturbing picture of escalating human rights abuses.
According to the BYC, 752 people were forcibly disappeared between January and June 2025. Of these, 181 have since been released, while 25 reportedly died in custody.
The fate of 546 individuals remains unknown. The Makran region recorded the highest number of disappearances, with Frontier Corps (FC) personnel identified as the main perpetrators, TBP reported.
The report further documented 117 extrajudicial killings during the same period. Many victims, mostly students, activists and politically conscious youth, were allegedly killed in staged encounters, custodial killings and so-called “kill-and-dump” operations.
BYC claimed these acts reflect a deliberate state policy to crush political dissent in Balochistan, The Balochistan Post noted.
BYC also didn't forget to highlight the systematic use of torture against those detainees. Signs of severe physical abuse were found on the bodies of those who died in custody, suggesting torture is not only used for interrogation but also to instil fear across Baloch communities.
The group alleged that collective punishment has become routine, with families of the disappeared facing harassment, home raids and assault, often targeting women. Children in Balochistan, BYC added, are growing up under constant fear and surveillance.
The committee also criticised the use of legal instruments such as the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) and the Fourth Schedule to target peaceful activists.
This 2025 amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, passed by the Baloch Assembly, was flagged for granting sweeping powers to armed forces, including detention without charge for up to 90 days. BYC also warned that military officers now sit on review boards, raising questions over judicial independence.
BYC concluded this warning by mentioning that these laws are increasingly being weaponised against Baloch journalists, students violating human rights, and also going against human rights defenders, further shrinking civil liberties in the province.
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