Imagine showing up to court to prove your innocence, only to vanish before the judge even bangs the gavel. It’s a nightmare scenario, but for activists in Balochistan, it’s just another Tuesday. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is currently screaming into a void because the very people following the law are being snatched by the state. When you surrender to the legal process and still get "disappeared," the system isn't just broken—it's been weaponized.
We aren't talking about rebels hiding in the mountains. We’re talking about people like Meraj and Abdul Ghaffar Kiyyazai. These men were doing exactly what the Pakistani state told them to do: attending court hearings, appearing for jail trials, and respecting the judicial process. Then, they vanished. If you can’t find safety in a courtroom, where can you find it?
The Courtroom as a Trap
The BYC recently dropped a bombshell allegation that represents a terrifying shift in the ongoing crackdown. Since March 18, 2025, the state has been on a tear, filing dozens of First Information Reports (FIRs) against anyone loosely connected to the movement. But here's the kicker: many of these activists were already granted bail. They were playing by the rules.
Last week, Meraj was reportedly taken from Quetta while he was consistently showing up for his hearings. Two days later, Abdul Ghaffar Kiyyazai was allegedly snatched under similar circumstances. Taking someone who has already "surrendered before the law" is a move that basically tells the public that the courts are irrelevant. It’s a slap in the face to the judiciary.
- Meraj: Taken from Quetta while appearing in court.
- Abdul Ghaffar Kiyyazai: Disappeared while attending hearings for the same cases.
- The Target: Anyone appearing in "jail trials" at Hudda Jail and other facilities.
The BYC has had enough. During a recent trial at Hudda Jail, leaders actually boycotted the proceedings. They told the judge straight up: why are we even here if our people get abducted the moment they walk out the door? It’s a fair question. If the state doesn't respect its own judges, why should anyone else?
A Systematic Squeeze on Dissent
This isn't just about a couple of arrests. It’s a full-spectrum squeeze. The Pakistani authorities are using every tool in the shed to bury the BYC. If they aren't disappearing you, they're putting you on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. That’s basically digital and physical house arrest. Your assets are frozen, your movement is restricted, and you're treated like a terrorist without ever being convicted of a crime.
It’s getting personal, too. There are reports of family members being detained just to pressure activists into making "forced statements." They’ll pick up a cousin or a father to get an activist to shut up. It’s a low-blow tactic that shows how desperate the crackdown has become.
Even the lawyers aren't safe. Imagine trying to defend a client while someone is leaning over your shoulder trying to "collect your personal information." Defense attorneys involved in these Baloch cases have reported harassment during court appearances. When the guys in suits are scared, you know the rule of law is on life support.
The Human Cost of the Silence
In March 2026 alone, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) documented 65 enforced disappearances and 50 killings. Let those numbers sink in. That’s more than two people vanishing every single day. February was even worse, with a staggering 234 disappearances. This isn't a "security operation"—it’s a demographic assault.
Most people in Islamabad or Lahore don't see this. They see the 16-day internet blackouts or the blocked highways and think it’s just "regional instability." But for the families of Dad Shashani or Fauzia Baloch, it's a gut-wrenching reality. Fauzia was recently detained just for trying to talk to journalists about her missing relative. The message is clear: if you speak, you're next.
Why the International Community is Failing
The UN and Amnesty International keep issuing "concerns," but they don't seem to have much teeth. Pakistan just attended the World Congress on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva in 2025, yet the numbers on the ground are hitting record highs in 2026. There’s a massive gap between what’s said in Swiss conference rooms and what’s happening in the streets of Gwadar and Quetta.
We see a lot of talk about "counter-terrorism," but the victims often have no political affiliations. They're students, government servants, and poets. When you label a whole ethnicity as a threat, you lose the ability to distinguish between a militant and a grieving sister.
What Actually Needs to Happen
If you're following this and wondering if there's any way out, the "next steps" aren't complicated, but they require political courage that's currently missing.
- End the Jail Trials: These closed-door sessions are breeding grounds for abuse. Trials need to be public, transparent, and held in civilian courts where the press can actually see what’s happening.
- Accountability for the "Lifters": Until a security official is actually prosecuted for an enforced disappearance, the cycle won't stop. Impunity is the fuel for this fire.
- Judicial Backlash: The judges in Quetta and Karachi need to stop being spectators. If a defendant who is on bail disappears, the court should halt all proceedings and issue contempt notices to the heads of the security agencies.
- Stop the Fourth Schedule Abuse: Using anti-terror laws to silence peaceful protesters like Mahrang Baloch is a transparent sham. It needs to be challenged in the Supreme Court.
The BYC says they'll continue their campaign against "Baloch genocide." Given the current trajectory, they don't have much of a choice. When the law becomes a trap, the only thing left to do is shout until someone finally listens. Don't look away just because it's happening in a remote corner of the map.
