A disturbing picture of Pakistan’s deepening human rights crisis is emerging as families of the disappeared continue to protest, accusing the state of silencing peaceful voices through enforced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan. For years, relatives searching for missing loved ones have said that appeals for justice, legal remedies and peaceful protests have been met with intimidation, denial and prolonged silence. Enforced disappearances, activists argue, have become a routine tool to suppress dissent rather than an exception justified by security concerns.

Families claim that students, political workers, activists and even ordinary civilians have vanished without warrants, formal charges or information about their whereabouts. Despite repeated assurances from authorities, most cases remain unresolved, leaving families trapped in uncertainty, emotional trauma and financial hardship. Human rights groups say the lack of accountability has normalised a culture of impunity. Although commissions and inquiries have been set up over the years, critics note that these bodies have failed to deliver justice or deter future abuses. Calls to criminalise enforced disappearance under Pakistani law and to align with international human rights standards have seen little progress.

Relatives of the missing say their struggle is not just for answers but for dignity. Many have organised sit-ins, long marches and petitions, often facing harassment and threats for speaking out. Activists allege that those leading campaigns against disappearances are themselves targeted, reinforcing fears that peaceful advocacy is increasingly unsafe in Pakistan. The state has consistently defended its actions as necessary for national security, particularly in conflict-hit regions. However, critics argue that branding dissent as a security threat has allowed abuses to continue unchecked, eroding public trust and deepening alienation in provinces like Balochistan.

International human rights organisations have repeatedly urged Pakistan to end enforced disappearances, ensure transparency and hold perpetrators accountable. They warn that failure to address the issue risks further destabilising society and undermining the rule of law. As families continue their search, the message from the ground remains grim: in Pakistan, the pursuit of peace, justice and answers too often leads not to resolution, but to disappearance. 

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