Balochistan [Pakistan], March 30: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly condemned the illegal abduction, detention, and torture of children by the Pakistani military and law enforcement agencies in Kohlu, Balochistan. These actions were carried out following protests against the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrators in Quetta.
Background: Arrest of Mahrang Baloch Sparks Protests
The recent protests were ignited by the unlawful arrest of Mahrang Baloch and other BYC members. In response, security forces allegedly abducted and tortured Abdullah Baloch, a young protester, leading to his death.
According to a BYC post on X, before his death, Abdullah identified the Levies soldiers responsible, stating that they were acting under direct orders from the Deputy Commissioner of Kohlu. Abdullah’s family staged a sit-in protest demanding an investigation and an FIR against the accused officials, but their pleas were ignored by authorities.
Military Crackdown on Children’s Protest
The next day, children in Kohlu took to the streets in solidarity with detained activists, demanding their release. During the demonstration, the children defaced a military statue near a Frontier Corps (FC) camp and carried it through the city.
This act of defiance triggered a harsh military response, as FC personnel raided the region, abducting and torturing over 20 minors, some as young as 10 to 12 years old. The children were later released, but not before being subjected to brutal mistreatment and threats.
Eyewitness Reports: Ongoing Abductions and Threats
BYC reported that FC continues to abduct children, detaining four to five at a time, torturing them, and then releasing them with warnings to stay silent. Among the released minors, Bilal, son of Majeed, and Ramzan, son of Sher Bahadur, were identified.
Calls for International Intervention
BYC has urged human rights organizations, activists, and journalists to take immediate action and raise awareness about these severe human rights violations. Under international humanitarian law, children, women, the elderly, and disabled persons are non-combatants and cannot be targeted—even in wartime.
Despite systematic oppression, the children of Balochistan remain undeterred in their fight for justice and freedom.