Human rights advocates in Balochistan are reeling from the latest alleged extrajudicial killing, with the discovery of 26-year-old Imran Taj’s mangled body in Turbat, Kech district. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee attributes the student’s death to Pakistani forces, following his enforced disappearance on June 27 last year while walking home from university.
For nine agonizing months, Taj’s family held out hope, only to face unimaginable horror. BYC’s statement captured the community’s anguish: ‘This devastating loss has shattered his family and the Baloch nation.’ They accused authorities of orchestrating a campaign of disappearances and assassinations, calling on the United Nations and global NGOs to intervene decisively.
‘Families must not live in terror while culprits walk free. Our cause upholds human rights and dignity,’ the group affirmed. Paralleling this tragedy, the Balochistan Human Rights Council highlighted a ruthless February 25 raid in Minaj, Kech, where attackers shelled a house, massacred six residents—including vulnerable women and children—wounded three, and burned three cars.
HRCP’s outrage was palpable: such targeting of non-combatants defies all ethical and legal standards, impervious to excuses. As these events unfold, Balochistan remains a flashpoint, with activists decrying state repression amid demands for autonomy. International attention is crucial to halting the bloodshed and fostering dialogue in this beleaguered province.