Enforced Disappearances in Pakistan: A Systemic Human Rights Crisis

Enforced Disappearances in Pakistan: A Systemic Human Rights Crisis

An enforced disappearance, as defined by international law, occurs when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organization, or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organization, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person's fate and whereabouts, with the intent of placing the victim outside the protection of the law.

In Pakistan, this practice has become a systemic and long-standing issue, used as a tool to muzzle dissent, counter insurgencies, and instill fear. While it occurs nationwide, its prevalence and impact are most acute in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.

Balochistan: The Epicenter of the Crisis

Balochistan has the longest and most tragic history of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. The issue is deeply intertwined with the province's long-running ethno-nationalist insurgency, its vast natural resources, and strategic projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Targets:

The victims are predominantly Baloch men, including:

Students and Youth: University students and young activists are frequently targeted to suppress the intellectual and future leadership of the Baloch nationalist movement.

Political Activists: Members and supporters of Baloch nationalist parties who advocate for greater autonomy or independence.

Journalists and Human Rights Defenders: Individuals who dare to report on the situation or document human rights abuses.

Ordinary Citizens: Many victims have no known political affiliation and are picked up on mere suspicion or to create a climate of widespread fear.

The Impact:

"Kill-and-Dump" Policy: Balochistan is notorious for a gruesome pattern where disappeared individuals are later found dead, their bodies often bearing marks of torture. This practice is designed not only to eliminate dissenters but also to terrorize the population.

Generational Trauma: The constant fear of abduction has inflicted deep psychological trauma on the Baloch community. Families are left in a state of “ambiguous loss,” unable to mourn or move on, clinging to the hope of their loved one's return. Children grow up in households shadowed by grief and anxiety.

Erosion of Social Fabric: The disappearance of men, often the sole breadwinners, plunges families into severe economic hardship. This has led to the breakdown of community structures and has fueled profound anger and resentment against the state.

Protest and Activism: The crisis has given rise to sustained protest movements, most notably led by the families of the disappeared. Figures like Mama Qadeer Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch have become symbols of resistance, leading long marches and sit-in camps (like the one outside the Quetta Press Club) to demand answers and justice.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): The Legacy of the "War on Terror"

In KP, particularly in the areas formerly known as FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), enforced disappearances escalated dramatically after 9/11 as part of Pakistan's operations in the US-led "War on Terror."

The Targets:

Suspected Militants: Individuals were often picked up on suspicion of involvement with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or other militant groups, frequently without due process or credible evidence.

Pashtun Activists: More recently, activists associated with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a non-violent movement demanding an end to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other abuses against Pashtuns, have been targeted.

Civilians: Many ordinary Pashtuns were caught in the crossfire, disappeared from their homes, workplaces, or military checkpoints.

The Impact:

Fueling the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM): 

The PTM’s rise is a direct consequence of the state’s policies in the tribal belt. The movement brought the issue of “missing persons” from the periphery to the national mainstream, challenging the official security narrative.

Internment Centers: 

Many of the disappeared in KP are believed to be held in secret internment centers, established under regulations that bypass the regular judicial system. These centers operate in a legal black hole, with no oversight or access for families and lawyers.

Loss of Trust: 

The practice has shattered the Pashtun community's trust in the state and its security forces. Instead of being seen as protectors, they are often viewed as perpetrators of violence and injustice, undermining long-term stability and counter-terrorism efforts.

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 Sindh: Suppressing Political and Ethnic Dissent

In Sindh, enforced disappearances target a different demographic, reflecting the province's unique political landscape. The victims are often linked to ethno-nationalist movements and political parties.

The Targets:

Sindhi Nationalists: Activists and supporters of Sindhi nationalist groups who advocate for provincial rights and oppose large-scale development projects they believe harm local interests.

Political Workers: 

In urban centers like Karachi, workers affiliated with political parties like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have been subjected to disappearances, particularly during security crackdowns.

Journalists, Bloggers, and Social Media Activists: Individuals critical of the state's policies or the role of the security establishment have also been abducted, sending a chilling message to others.

The Impact:

Silencing Dissent: 

The primary goal in Sindh appears to be the suppression of political and ethnic dissent. By targeting activists, the state aims to neutralize movements that challenge its central authority or economic interests.

Climate of Fear in Urban and Rural Areas: 

The disappearances create a pervasive climate of fear that discourages open political debate and activism. Families of the disappeared often face intimidation when they try to speak out or seek legal recourse.

Legal Limbo: 

As in other provinces, families are caught in a torturous cycle of visiting police stations, filing court petitions, and appealing to authorities, all while the state denies custody of their loved ones.

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The Role of Pakistan's Security Agencies:

Human rights organizations, victim testimonies, and even court observations consistently point to the involvement of Pakistan's powerful intelligence and security agencies.

Key Agencies Implicated: 

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Frontier Corps (FC) in Balochistan and KP, and the Rangers in Sindh are the primary agencies accused of carrying out abductions. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police has also been implicated.

Modus Operandi: The pattern is remarkably consistent:

Abductions are carried out by men in plain clothes, often using unmarked vehicles (such as the Toyota Vigo double-cabin pickup).

No warrants are presented, and no reasons are given for the arrest. When families approach the police to file a report, they are often refused or the report is registered against "unidentified persons," despite eyewitness accounts.

The agencies systematically deny having the person in their custody, creating a wall of impunity.

These agencies operate under a broad and often vaguely defined "national security" mandate, which they use to justify actions that exist far outside the bounds of Pakistan's Constitution and its legal obligations.

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The Silence and Inaction of State Institutions

The persistence of enforced disappearances is enabled by the failure of state institutions to provide justice and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The Judiciary: 

While higher courts, including the Supreme Court and various High Courts, have taken up cases of missing persons and have occasionally admonished security officials, they have largely failed to enforce accountability. 

Judges have expressed frustration and helplessness in compelling powerful security agencies to produce victims or admit custody. This demonstrates the judiciary's limited power when confronting the military establishment.

The Legislature (Parliament): 

Parliament has been criticized for its lack of meaningful action. While a bill criminalizing enforced disappearances was passed—the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023—activists have labeled it as fundamentally flawed. 

Critics argue that its definition of enforced disappearance is weak, it provides potential legal cover for intelligence agencies, and it lacks robust mechanisms for independent investigation and prosecution.

The Executive (Civilian Governments): 

Successive civilian governments have publicly condemned the practice but have proven either unwilling or unable to stop it. They remain subordinate to the military and intelligence apparatus, which controls security policy.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED): 

Established in 2011, the COIED was meant to be the primary state body to trace missing persons and hold perpetrators accountable. However, it has been widely condemned by human rights groups and victims' families as ineffective and complicit.

It is often described as a "post office" that merely registers cases without conducting meaningful investigations.

It has failed to hold a single perpetrator from the security agencies accountable in its decade-long existence.

By creating the illusion of a functional remedy, critics argue the Commission actually serves to absorb public anger and deflect international criticism without delivering justice.

Enforced disappearances in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh are not random acts of crime but a calculated state policy of repression. The impact is devastating, creating a landscape of fear, trauma, and injustice that tears families and communities apart. 

This crisis is perpetuated by a dual reality: the unchecked power of security agencies operating with impunity, and the systemic failure of Pakistan's democratic and judicial institutions to uphold the rule of law and protect their own citizens. 

Until there is genuine political will to demilitarize security policy and establish meaningful accountability, the cycle of disappearances and suffering is likely to continue.