The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised concerns over deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan, saying the disappearance of people by state agencies continued with impunity throughout 2022, with families alleging that their missing relatives were being killed in “fake encounters” by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
The HRCP released its assessment report of human rights situation in Balochistan in 2022.
According to the report, state agencies continued to unlawfully disappear people, especially political activists, with impunity throughout the last year. It said that Baloch students based in other provinces were also picked up, sparking protests by their families. Human rights groups based in Balochistan have expressed concerns that the missing persons were being killed in ‘fake encounters’ by CTD.
Several people who were killed by CTD over terror charges were later reported to be political activists or students.
The report said that Voice for Baloch Missing Persons registered 257 cases of enforced disappearance in the province in 2022, while another organisation working on enforced disappearances said that Balochistan has the highest proportion of people who are ‘still disappeared’, at over 75 per cent.
The report also said that “grievous human rights violations in Balochistan, including an alarming increase in attacks by militant groups, received negligible news coverage. Most journalists were compelled to self-censor for fear of reprisals”.
The report also highlighted other issues, including damages caused by last year’s floods, and an increase in attacks on law enforcement agencies by a separatist group.
 has raised concerns over deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan, saying the disappearance of people by state agencies continued with impunity throughout 2022 with families alleging that their missing relatives were being killed in "fake encounters" by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). ){kind=link}