Pakistan: Enforced disappearances continue as two Baloch men go missing in Karachi

Balochistan [Pakistan], March 19 (ANI): Two individuals from Balochistan have reportedly been forcibly disappeared in separate incidents in Karachi, according to family members and local sources, further intensifying concerns about the alleged enforced disappearances of Baloch citizens in Pakistan. The most recent incident involves Asim, son of Asghar, who belongs to Panwan in Jiwani.
Family members allege that he was taken into custody by personnel of the Pakistan Rangers during the late hours of March 16. Relatives said that the incident occurred around midnight in the Shah Ali Sharafi Goth locality of Karachi, as reported by The Balochistan Post.
According to The Balochistan Post, Asim, who works as a trader, was reportedly picked up from the area and taken away by security personnel. Since the reported detention, his family says they have not received any information about his whereabouts or legal status.
Relatives are deeply worried about his safety and have appealed to authorities to disclose his location and ensure his safe return. In a separate case that has recently come to public attention, another Baloch man, identified as Shabbir Baloch, has reportedly been missing since November last year.
Shabbir, son of Haji Qadir Bakhsh and a resident of Zehri in Khuzdar district, was allegedly detained on November 13 from a nursing hostel in Karachi, where he had been staying.
Family members said that since the day he was reportedly taken into custody, they have received no official communication regarding his situation. Relatives claim that Shabbir has not been produced before any court nor formally charged with any offence. The families of both missing men say they remain unaware of their loved ones' whereabouts and have urged authorities to immediately reveal their location and ensure their release. Such incidents have sparked renewed fear among Baloch communities living both in Balochistan and in Karachi, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post.
Allegations of enforced disappearances involving Baloch individuals have been reported for many years, particularly in Balochistan and areas of Karachi with significant Baloch populations. Human rights organisations and activists have repeatedly highlighted the issue and called for accountability. Pakistani authorities have not issued any official statement regarding these specific cases so far, leaving families waiting for answers and justice, as reported by The Balochistan Post. (ANI)