Barkhan (Balochistan) – A recent intelligence-led operation by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the Barkhan district of Balochistan has sparked intense domestic scrutiny. While officials claim the mission successfully neutralized six-armed militants, local reports and rights advocates allege that several of the deceased were individuals previously subjected to enforced disappearances.
According to the CTD’s official statement, the raid was initiated following confidential tips regarding the presence of armed suspects in the region. Authorities reported a heavy exchange of fire, resulting in six fatalities among the suspects, while security forces remained unscathed. The bodies were subsequently transported to Rakhni Hospital for post-mortem and legal identification.
Disputed Identities and “Fake Encounter” Allegations
The official narrative faced immediate pushback as identifications began to surface. According to The Balochistan Post, at least three of the men have been identified by local sources as individuals who were already on “missing persons” lists:
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Akbar Domki: Son of Nawab Khan Domki, reportedly missing since 2022. Family members state he was taken into custody again in January 2024 from Jhal Magsi before appearing in the list of those killed in this latest operation.
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Budha Lashari: Son of Muhammad Murad Lashari.
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Makhan Lashari: Son of Mureed Lashari.
The organization Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) had previously documented the disappearance of Akbar Domki and his brother, Yousaf, the latter of whom was also killed in a prior police encounter that family members labeled as staged.
Growing Concerns Over Judicial Extra-Legal Actions
With three bodies still unidentified, there is mounting anxiety among local communities that they, too, may be linked to previously reported abductions. This incident follows a string of similar operations in Quetta and Karachi where CTD claims of “armed confrontations” were publicly challenged by the families of the deceased.
Human rights observers note that these recurring patterns—where missing persons are declared dead in “encounters”—continue to strain the relationship between the state and the Baloch people, fueling further unrest in the region.
