A leading human rights organization on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the sharp increase in gender-based human rights violations in Balochistan by 2025. The organization says that the incidents of enforced disappearance of Baloch women by Pakistani security forces reflect a policy of widespread and systematic repression and collective punishment.
The Baloch Yakzehti Committee (BYC) in its thematic report ‘Enforced Disappearances of Baloch Women in 2025: Collective Punishment and Gender Human Rights Violations in Balochistan’ said that although in the past the victims of enforced disappearances have mostly been Baloch men, there was a significant increase in incidents of direct targeting of women and girls in 2025.
According to the report, at least 12 cases of enforced disappearances involving women and girls were recorded in different districts of Balochistan during 2025. These cases have revealed a similar pattern of detaining people without arrest warrants, judicial oversight or any valid legal basis. This was followed by a denial of custody by the relevant agencies or a refusal to provide information about the whereabouts and conditions of the victims.
BYC reported that in many cases, more than one family member was targeted during a single operation, causing severe mental and social impact on the entire family. According to the organization, these incidents have unfolded within the broader context of Pakistan’s security actions, counter-insurgency measures, and militarized governance, where Baloch women are now becoming direct, rather than indirect, victims of state violence.
The report said that enforced disappearance of women is not just a violation of individual rights, but has far-reaching social consequences. This destabilizes families, breaks down community structures and creates an environment of fear, silence and social disintegration.
In many cases, women were targeted to exert pressure on their male relatives or entire families, reflecting a specific gendered pattern of oppression.
According to BYC, incidents of enforced disappearances were accompanied by repeated home raids, threats, and acts of intimidation against families. Many houses were searched, property damaged or confiscated, making it clear that punitive measures were not limited to the victims alone.
The human rights organization called on international organizations to urgently monitor the situation, saying these practices violate Pakistan’s constitutional provisions and international law and are causing long-term harm to families and communities.
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