Balochistan families denied morgue access amid disappearances

In Balochistan, families are struggling to find out about their missing loved ones. Many Baloch nationals have been abducted or have disappeared. Local residents are not allowed to visit morgues to check if their missing relatives are among the deceased. This situation sparked protests from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, a human rights group. They have been demanding access to morgues to identify the bodies. However, their requests have been denied by the authorities. Over the past week, bodies accumulated at local morgues, increasing the desperation among families. Recently, protesters entered the Civil Hospital in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. They reportedly took several corpses, but it is unclear if these bodies were identified. The Pakistani Army claims that these bodies belong to members of the Baloch Liberation Army, a group fighting against what they call the illegal occupation of Balochistan. The situation escalated after the BLA took a train hostage earlier this month. The military has since started operations against the group. In response to the bodies being taken, security agencies launched a search operation in Quetta and detained several individuals. A government official stated that the bodies taken were unidentified militants killed during the military crackdown. Members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee confirmed that family members of missing persons were among those who retrieved the bodies. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee, led by activist Mahrang Baloch, is now under surveillance by Pakistani intelligence. The situation remains tense as families continue to seek answers amidst growing fears and uncertainty.