Recovered Bodies in Balochistan Spark Custodial Killing Allegations

The recovery of five bodies from the Panwan area of Jiwani in the Gwadar district has sparked allegations of custodial killings by the Military of Pakistan. The discovery occurred shortly after the Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army attacked a Pakistan Coast Guard camp in Panwan, leading to a series of security operations in the region.

While the Pakistani military announced that the deceased were militants killed during these security operations, local residents and rights activists argue the men had already been in state custody. Among the identified victims was Chakar Gulab, who had been missing for two years, and two fishermen, Piri Asa and Shah Bakhsh Umar, who were detained by authorities in January 2026.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee reported that the recovered bodies showed signs of severe physical abuse and torture. The organization identified the victims and characterized the deaths as part of a systemic pattern of enforced disappearances within the Balochistan region.

These allegations highlight the ongoing volatility in Balochistan, where state security operations frequently clash with militant insurgencies. The identification of long-term missing persons among the casualties intensifies local grievances regarding the treatment of detainees and the practice of enforced disappearances in the district.