February 20, 2026
By Nadeem Khan
QUETTA
In the freezing temperature, a small group of women sit inside the camp of the Baloch Missing Persons next to the Quetta press club, pleading for the recovery of their loved ones. In the background a baby cries. Stepping into the camp and having taken our shoes off, we realize how cold the floor. Everywhere, there are pictures of missing persons.
While we covered the missing persons case, two plainclothes security personnel watched from outside, with one secretly recording us. Its considered hard topic for journalists to cover.
Here we met Shah Bibi, in her 60s, who belongs to Mangocher, a remote town in Kalat district, nearly 100 kilometers south of Quetta, connected by a winding road that cuts through Balochistan’s rugged terrain. According to Bibi, her son Mahmood Ali Langove was subjected to an enforced disappearance in June 2024. For more than a year, she has protested for her son’s safe return.
“I have a single child. I can’t live without him. I told the court that if my son is not released, I would attempt self-immolation outside the court” she said.
Militancy and Missing Persons in alochistan
Pakistan’s southwestern province, Balochistan, has experienced insurgencies since 1948. The ongoing conflict, often called the fifth insurgency, began in the early 2000s and has intensified in recent years. Authorities often link militancy with the missing persons issue
The Balochistan Assembly passed the Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act, 2025, after which the Chief Minister claimed that they had ended the missing persons issue. He claimed that missing persons are those who have joined the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) or other militant groups, and then blamed security forces. These claims and the amendment have sparked concern among Bibi and many other family members of missing persons. Families continue to accuse authorities of enforced disappearances, while human rights activists and legal experts have expressed their concerns.
What Makes the Act Controversial
The Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act 2025 allows authorities to detain individuals for up to 90 days without formal charges. Under the law, special courts with limited public access are to be established, alongside designated detention centers. The government says these measures, including the use of voice-changing technology in proceedings, are intended to protect judges and lawyers.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised serious concerns over the human rights situation in Balochistan. The commission noted that enforced disappearances are still framed by state authorities as a byproduct of insurgency, a narrative that risks normalizing what international law considers a crime against humanity. HRCP also criticized the Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act 2025.
Legal Expert Jabbar criticized the Act, saying it allows detainees to be held for up to 90 days without access to legal counsel, in violation of Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the right to liberty and protection against unlawful detention. He noted that while arrests and detentions were previously subject to legal safeguards, the new law effectively legitimizes detention centers that were previously alleged to exist in secret. Jabbar also highlighted the lack of meaningful court oversight, warning that detainees could be exposed to torture or abuse, and argued that legalizing unlawful detention will not resolve the underlying issues of missing persons.
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), has been highlighting the issue of enforced disappearances for more than 15 years.
“The new law is threatening,” said Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of VBMP. “The state may try to silence us through it. Powerful authorities do not welcome voices speaking out against enforced disappearances, but we will continue demanding that the issue of missing persons be addressed.”
Official records show 2,888 missing in Balochistan, but VBMP claims over 6,000.
Official data from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances shows that between March 2011 and August 2025, the commission received 10,636 cases of alleged enforced disappearances across Pakistan. Of these, 8,986 cases have been resolved, while 1,650 remain under investigation. In Balochistan, the commission recorded 2,888 cases, of which 2,693 have been disposed (not explained)
and 195 remain under investigation. However, the VBMP claims that over 6,000 Baloch individuals are still missing, highlighting a significant gap between official figures and civil society estimates.
Extrajudicial Killing Claims.
Families accuse security forces oyf extrajudicial killings, while authorities deny the allegations.
Hooran Baloch, General Secretary of VBMP, claimed that several families came forward yesterday after their loved ones were reportedly killed, having previously been subjected to enforced disappearances. She said, “We urge that all such cases be handled through fair and legal trials, ensuring justice and accountability.” Authorities, however, denied the allegations of extrajudicial killings.
Several political parties oppose the act
Several political parties have voiced opposition to the Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act. Sajid Tareen, Central Senior Vice President of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), called on all political parties to unite and challenge the law, including through Awami Adalat (Protest). He also warned that following the 27th constitutional amendment, the judiciary has weakened. “The voice against the act should be raised in international forums to hold those responsible accountable,” he said.
The government defends the law, citing steps to address disappearances.
From February 1, 2025, there will be no missing persons, claimed Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, during the 22nd cabinet session. He described claims of disappearances as a propaganda tool, saying that many political parties exploit the issue for political gain, while his government has taken steps to address it permanently.
He added that security forces sometimes operate in the “grey zone” during operations, picking up individuals for interrogation. New detention centres have been established where anyone suspected will be held, with families informed. Each centre will be headed by a police officer, and families will be allowed to meet detainees.
Amid government claims and legal debates, Shah Bibi still waits, hoping for the return of her missing son for many families in Balochistan. The search for justice continues