Pakistan increases arrests of Baloch Activists, father of BYC leader taken into custody, United Nations expresses concern
In a shocking incident reported by The Balochistan Post on April 5, 2025, Mir Bashir Ahmed, father of Dr. Sabiha Baloch - a senior leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) - was forcibly taken by police officer Syed Fazal Bukhari, SP Hub, in Balochistan, Pakistan. Three months later, his whereabouts remain unknown, and the incident continues to cast a dark shadow over the region.
Dr. Sabiha Baloch has publicly stated that her father complied with the summons but was told he would not be released unless she resigned from her role in the BYC or surrendered. In a recent statement, she denounced the pressure tactics used against her family, emphasising that the struggle for Baloch rights is rooted in moral values that cannot be suppressed through coercion.
The incident fits a broader pattern of enforced disappearances and violence in Balochistan. In May 2025 alone, 138 enforced disappearances and 72 deaths were recorded, many involving brutal torture and extrajudicial killings by Pakistani security forces. This reflects an intensifying crackdown on Baloch activists and political figures in the region, including by groups like the Frontier Corps and police.
The situation has drawn international attention, with the United Nations and human rights organisations raising alarms about Pakistan's increasing repression of Baloch activists. The enforced disappearance of Mir Bashir Ahmed has been cited as an example of this crackdown, drawing condemnation and calls for accountability and respect for human rights. However, no concrete publicly available information on an independent investigation or resolution has emerged thus far.
The UN Special Rapporteurs issued a joint statement in April expressing grave concern over the enforced disappearance of Mir Bashir Ahmed and the threats facing Sabiha Baloch herself. They called on Pakistani authorities to stop the retaliation and ensure Sabiha Baloch's safety, but as of the latest report, their call remains unaddressed. The family of Mir Bashir Ahmed continues to demand his immediate and unconditional release.
As of now, no information about the release of Mir Bashir Ahmed has been disclosed. The demand for his release is ongoing, and the UN Special Rapporteurs' concern over the incident remains valid, as of the latest report. The incident remains emblematic of the broader human rights crisis in Balochistan as of mid-2025.
- The latest news highlights the ongoing concern of the United Nations and human rights organizations regarding the enforced disappearance of Mir Bashir Ahmed, as this incident is an embodiment of the broader human rights crisis in war-and-conflicts stricken Balochistan.
- In the realm of politics, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a senior leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has voiced her strong opinion against the pressure tactics used against her family, stressing that such actions will not prevent the fight for Baloch rights, which is deeply rooted in general-news worthy moral values.
- Meanwhile, crime-and-justice groups continue to keep a close watch on the escalating incidents of enforced disappearances and deaths in Balochistan, with the latest reports showing 138 enforced disappearances and 72 deaths in May 2025 alone, many involving severe torture and extrajudicial killings by Pakistani security forces.
