Two brothers go to work to earn a living. They never make it home. This grim reality defines everyday life for countless families across Pakistan's resource-rich Balochistan province, where the human rights organization Paank recently condemned the forced abduction of two more siblings.
Sajid Baloch and Akeel Baloch, sons of Muhammad Bakhsh, left their homes in Sandum village, Kolwah, to work as laborers in the Kantani area of Gwadar. On August 22, while traveling back to their hometown, military personnel intercepted them. They vanished into custody, joining thousands of other victims of state-sponsored abductions. Their whereabouts remain completely unknown.
Why Gwadar Has Become a Epicenter of Fear
Gwadar is supposed to be the crown jewel of economic projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Billions flow into infrastructure, yet locals experience heavy militarization rather than prosperity. Checkpoints choke movement, and security forces monitor every aspect of daily existence.
When young men like Sajid and Akeel are snatched off the road, it sends a clear message to the local population. Dissent or simple independence is met with absolute suppression. Paank, which functions as the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, pointed out that these acts strip victims of all legal protections. When you're placed outside the law, torture and extrajudicial punishment become terrifying possibilities.
The Broader Pattern of Repression
This isn't an isolated incident. It's a systematic strategy. Just days prior to this incident, security forces raided the Bhan area of Turbat, forcibly abducting two other brothers, Mehraj and Irshad, sons of Hasil. What makes that case even worse is that both men had already survived previous stints of enforced disappearance. Mehraj spent over a year in unlawful detention before his initial release.
Human rights monitors note that targeting the same individuals repeatedly reveals complete contempt for judicial norms. Families are left trapped in a cycle of grief, forced to search police stations and courtrooms that offer zero answers.
Holding Authorities Accountable
International law defines enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity. Yet, accountability remains non-existent. Domestic courts routinely fail to challenge military agencies, and anti-torture legislation gathers dust while families protest in the streets.
Organisations like Paank continue to demand the immediate, safe release of Sajid and Akeel Baloch. They hold state authorities fully responsible for the physical and psychological well-being of the brothers. Until the international community moves beyond empty statements and imposes real diplomatic pressure, the vanishing of Baloch youths will continue unchecked.
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