Security forces in Pakistan have reportedly abducted four oil traders from the Panjgur district in Balochistan. The individuals, identified as Khalil Siddique, Abdul Shakoor Saleh, Arshad Rafique, and Waseem, son of Mohammad Hashim, were taken from the Paroom tehsil. Local sources reveal that the four men are laborers and drivers working in the oil trade.
Recently, oil traders in the nearby Kech district have been subjected to increased scrutiny, particularly under the pretext of issuing trade tokens. Many Baloch people claim that these measures are being used to target and harass individuals, especially those with suspected links to Baloch nationalist groups.
The families of the missing men, along with local activists, are demanding their immediate release and condemning the abductions as “inhumane.” Enforced disappearances in Balochistan remain a serious human rights issue, with Baloch political parties and rights organizations accusing Pakistani intelligence agencies of involvement. While the government usually denies these allegations, testimonies from victims’ families and evidence from human rights groups continue to highlight the troubling situation.
The Baloch National Movement’s human rights wing, Paank, has condemned the abductions. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Paank said, “Paank strongly condemns the enforced disappearances of Waseem Hashim, Khaleel Siddique, Arshid Rafiq, and Abdul Shakoor Saleh on the night of December 6, 2024, in Paroom tehsil of Panjgur district, Balochistan. These individuals were forcibly taken from their homes by Pakistani forces, marking another distressing instance of human rights violations in the region.”
Paank also stressed that enforced disappearances are a serious violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Pakistan is bound by, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. These actions deprive victims of their basic rights, including access to family, legal counsel, and any legal process.