In a troubling development amid rising cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, local families are being denied access to morgues, fueling fears about the fate of their missing loved ones. The Pakistan Army claims the bodies in the morgues belong to members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group engaged in an armed rebellion against Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” of Balochistan.
Bodies Line Up, Families Kept Away
Over the past week, as unidentified bodies piled up, locals demanded access to morgues to check if their missing relatives were among the dead. However, Pakistan’s security agencies allegedly refused their requests. This has sparked protests by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights organization that has been vocal against the alleged human rights violations by Pakistan’s military.
Protesters Storm Morgue, Bodies Go Missing
Frustrated by the authorities’ refusal, protesters, including families of missing persons, reportedly forced their way into Quetta’s Civil Hospital morgue and took away several corpses. It remains unclear whether the bodies were identified before being removed.
In response, Pakistan’s security forces launched a crackdown, conducting raids in Sariab Road and Secretariat Chowk in Quetta. Reports indicate that three bodies have been recovered and several people have been arrested.
Pakistan Army’s Claims and the BLA Connection
The Pakistan Army asserts that the bodies were of BLA militants who were killed in a military operation following the attack on the Jaffar Express train earlier this month. The militant group had briefly taken passengers hostage before releasing women, children, and Baloch passengers, reportedly keeping Pakistani security personnel captive. A military offensive was launched in retaliation.
Human Rights Activists Under Surveillance
Activists from BYC, including prominent leader Mahrang Baloch, are now reportedly under scrutiny from Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. A BYC representative stated, “We had been trying to gain access to the morgue for two days to reassure families that their missing relatives were not among the dead.”
Sources By Agencies
