Balochistan [Pakistan], March 19 : A large protest rally was organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in response to the targeted killing of Shah Jahan Baloch, the 11-year-long enforced disappearance of Chairman Zahid Baloch, and the continued systematic violence carried out by the Pakistani state and its associated death squads in Naal, Khuzdar district of Balochistan.
In a post on X, BYC stated, "BYC central leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, and Sibghatullah Shahji, addressed the rally. Victim families also spoke, including Qambar Baloch, son of Chairman Zahid Baloch; the sister of Shaheed Sharif Shazad; and Areef Baloch, son of missing person Zakir Ismail."
}}}}𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗷𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟭 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗵
𝘕𝘢𝘢𝘭, 𝘒𝘩𝘶𝘻𝘥𝘢𝘳 – 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯… pic.twitter.com/2z9ivWmoym
— Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) March 18, 2025
BYC further highlighted the history of systematic violence. The committee stated, "On March 18, 2014, Zahid Baloch and Asad Baloch were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces and intelligence agencies. Today marks 11 years since their disappearance."
The family of Zahid Baloch has endured constant state oppression. His brother, Shah Jahan Baloch, was recently martyred by state-supported death squads. Shah Jahan, the family's sole provider, earned a living through a small business. Additionally, political activist Nasir Karim was also targeted by state-backed groups but managed to survive, BYC lamented.
Shah Jahan Baloch was killed by Pakistan's intelligence agencies as part of the continuing state repression. His family has faced a long history of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killingshis brother, Chairman Zahid Baloch, a well-known student political leader, was forcibly disappeared in Quetta in 2014 and is still missing. Now, Shah Jahan Baloch has become the latest victim in what seems to be a deliberate campaign of persecution against politically aware Baloch individuals.
Pakistani law enforcement and paramilitary forces seem to be employing enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture as methods of collective punishment, causing fear and trauma within Baloch society. These actions are intended to intimidate and silence those who speak out against state repression and human rights abuses.
The ongoing systematic persecution of the Baloch people could be considered crimes against humanity, and the scale and purpose of these actions raise alarming concerns about the possibility of genocide.
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