Tensions have escalated in Pakistan’s Balochistan province following the killing of Parvez Mazar, an Arabic teacher at the Government High School in Babbar Shor. His death has sparked significant public outcry, with residents and local rights advocates organizing protests to demand the immediate arrest of those responsible. The demonstration, held outside the Pasni Press Club, serves as a focal point for long-standing grievances regarding the presence of armed groups and the broader issue of enforced disappearances in the region.
According to reports, Mazar was found dead in Pasni just one day after he was allegedly taken away in front of his family members. Relatives of the deceased have accused members of an armed group—often referred to by locals and rights activists as “death squads”—of kidnapping the teacher. The family alleges that Mazar was taken to a private facility where he was subjected to torture before being killed. Protesters have publicly asserted that the individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) are currently being shielded by security forces, and they have called for these suspects to be handed over to the police for formal legal proceedings.
During the gathering at the Pasni Press Club, demonstrators issued a stern warning to the authorities, stating they would proceed to block the Makran Coastal Highway if concrete action is not taken against the accused. The protesters urged state institutions to dismantle or hold to account the armed groups that they claim operate with the protection of state agencies, frequently targeting civilians, political activists, and human rights defenders without facing repercussions.
The term “death squads” has become a central point of contention in Balochistan. Rights organizations frequently use this label to describe armed militias that allegedly receive support or protection from official security institutions. These groups are accused of abducting and targeting individuals perceived as dissenters. The recurring nature of these allegations has contributed to a deep-seated mistrust between segments of the local population and the state, as international human rights monitors and United Nations experts have previously raised concerns regarding the province's human rights climate.
This latest incident occurs against the backdrop of a prolonged and ongoing sit-in outside the Quetta Press Club, where families of missing persons continue to demand information regarding their relatives. Groups such as the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) have been vocal in highlighting the plight of those who have disappeared after being allegedly detained by security and intelligence agencies. In recent weeks, families have shared accounts of their missing kin, including Kamran Khan, who was allegedly taken from Quetta on April 1, and Muhammad Riaz Satakzai, who reportedly vanished after being detained at a checkpoint.
For these families, the lack of transparency remains a source of profound psychological distress. While some have engaged with government-mandated commissions to record their statements, many report that they have received no substantive information about the whereabouts or the fate of their loved ones. Activists continue to demand that the state either produce the detainees before a court of law or provide a credible explanation for their detention.
As the agitation continues, the call for accountability remains the primary demand for protesters in both Pasni and Quetta. With the threat of highway blockades looming and the families of the missing maintaining their vigil, the situation underscores the persistent instability and the urgent human rights challenges facing the region. State authorities continue to face sustained criticism from both local activists and international organizations, with the demand for a transparent and impartial investigation into these disappearances and killings showing no signs of abating.
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