𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥
Balochistan, since its occupation in 1948, has been a hotbed of violence, unrest, and suppression in various forms in the hands of Pakistani state. Among those, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have been the most frequent cases. The Baloch people have been subjected to enforced disappearances, politically suppressed, economically marginalized, and literally discriminated against in various ways by the state.
The Pakistani state has been engaged in the killing and torture of the indigenous population in Balochistan since the same day of occupying the Kalat state. The Pakistani state, while acceding Kalat, killed many people, including children and women, indiscriminately. From March 27, 1948, until so far, it has killed hundreds of thousands of people, including the political elites of Balochistan. However, one of the worst practices among these atrocities is the fake encounters. From the Kill and Dump policy in early 2000 to the recent cases of custodial killings in Balochistan, the Pakistani state and its Army have been trying to eliminate the Baloch nation.
Pakistani state started custodial killings of Baloch political leaders and civilians in early 2000, which international community named it Kill and Dump Policy. From that notorious policy, the state has targeted students, teachers, political workers, writers, human rights activists, journalists and civilians in Balochistan. A large number of Baloch intellects has been forcibly disappeared and murdered by Pakistani state in last three decades. This heinous trend continues till today, which we call it systemic, slow and silent Genocide of Baloch nation.
The Pakistani state has been practicing the notorious fake encounters against the Baloch nation as a way of collective punishment, attempting to deter the ongoing national movement. This practice of fake encounters has been a moral support for the Pakistani military, as it falsely claims that it has engaged the freedom fighters in so-called clashes, as the claim itself is totally alienated from the realities. The Baloch nation has been aware and conscious of this chapter of atrocities committed against them.
The Pakistani state, while killing innocent people in staged encounters, falsely claims to the international community regarding the so-called terror activities and violence. However, it has been recorded that the state is only responsible for killing innocent civilians, not anyone else. We have always highlighted the fact to international bodies, including media outlets, regarding the situation in Balochistan, particularly pointing out the cases of enforced disappearances and the fake encounters orchestrated by the Pakistani state.
The fake encounters have been recorded to be practiced by this state in a very outrageous fashion, subsequently leading to a serious psychological crisis within the Baloch nation. The people who are already taken into custody by way of enforced disappearances are killed in staged clashes and are claimed to be killed while fighting with the security forces. The people whose known ones have been subjected to enforced disappearance have to wait until they either get killed extrajudicially in a staged encounter or their whereabouts remain untraceable for years. This chapter of serious atrocities is at a heightening point against the Baloch — against the laws and international conventions, and against humanity.