Enforced Disappearances of Baloch Women: Escalating State Repression in Balochistan (2005–2026)
Enforced Disappearances of Baloch Women: Escalating State Repression in Balochistan (2005–2026)
Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have long been used as a tool of repression against the Baloch nation. While much attention has been drawn to the thousands of Baloch men who have been forcibly disappeared, an alarming trend has emerged in recent years: Baloch women are also becoming prime targets of this policy. Students, activists, housewives, and ordinary women are being forcibly disappeared. The targeting of Baloch women reflects an escalation in state repression, demonstrating that no segment of Baloch society is spared from the practice of enforced disappearance.
Documented cases
Zareena Marri — 10 October 2005
Zareena Marri, a school teacher and resident of Kohlu, was forcibly disappeared from Kohlu on 10 October 2005. Her case remains one of the earliest documented incidents involving the enforced disappearance of a Baloch woman, highlighting that women have long been subjected to this policy.
Mahjabeen — 29 May 2025
Mahjabeen, daughter of Ghulam Mustafa, was a 24-year-old student of BS Library Science at Balochistan University and a resident of Washuk, Basima. She was reportedly abducted at around 3:00 AM on 29 May 2025 from Quetta Civil Hospital. According to reports, personnel from the CTD and MI were involved in her abduction.
Nasreena Baloch — 22 November 2025
Nasreena Baloch, daughter/wife of Dilawar Baloch and a resident of Teertaj, Awaran, was forcibly disappeared from Hub Chowki on 22 November 2025.
Haseena Baloch — 16 April 2026
Haseena Baloch, daughter of Noor Bakhsh and a resident of Awaran, was forcibly disappeared on 16 April 2026. She is a housewife by profession.
Khadija Baloch — 21 April 2026
Khadija Baloch, daughter of Peer Jan and a resident of Hirrnok, Kech, was abducted from the BMC Hostel in Quetta on 21 April 2026. She was a nursing student pursuing her education at the time of her enforced disappearance.
Zarnaaz — 29 April 2026
Zarnaaz, daughter of Shafiq, an 18-year-old resident of Kech, was forcibly disappeared on 29 April 2026. She was a housewife, and her disappearance demonstrates that even young Baloch women are not spared from this practice.
Zubaida — 29 April 2026
Zubaida, wife of Haji Badal and a resident of Tejaban, Kech, was forcibly disappeared from her home on 29 April 2026. A housewife, she was taken from the safety of her residence.
Habiba Peerjan — 25 May 2026
Habiba Peerjan, daughter of Peer Muhammad and a resident of Nazarabad, Tump, Kech, was forcibly disappeared on 25 May 2026 at approximately 12:40 AM from Gulshan-e-Mazdoor, 3rd Street, Baldia Town, Karachi. A poet and artist, Habiba was subjected to enforced disappearance for the second time.
Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have long been used as a tool of repression against the Baloch nation. While much attention has been drawn to the thousands of Baloch men who have been forcibly disappeared, an alarming trend has emerged in recent years: Baloch women are also becoming prime targets of this policy. Students, activists, housewives, and ordinary women are being forcibly disappeared. The targeting of Baloch women reflects an escalation in state repression, demonstrating that no segment of Baloch society is spared from the practice of enforced disappearance.
Documented cases
Zareena Marri — 10 October 2005
Zareena Marri, a school teacher and resident of Kohlu, was forcibly disappeared from Kohlu on 10 October 2005. Her case remains one of the earliest documented incidents involving the enforced disappearance of a Baloch woman, highlighting that women have long been subjected to this policy.
Mahjabeen — 29 May 2025
Mahjabeen, daughter of Ghulam Mustafa, was a 24-year-old student of BS Library Science at Balochistan University and a resident of Washuk, Basima. She was reportedly abducted at around 3:00 AM on 29 May 2025 from Quetta Civil Hospital. According to reports, personnel from the CTD and MI were involved in her abduction.
Nasreena Baloch — 22 November 2025
Nasreena Baloch, daughter/wife of Dilawar Baloch and a resident of Teertaj, Awaran, was forcibly disappeared from Hub Chowki on 22 November 2025.
Haseena Baloch — 16 April 2026
Haseena Baloch, daughter of Noor Bakhsh and a resident of Awaran, was forcibly disappeared on 16 April 2026. She is a housewife by profession.
Khadija Baloch — 21 April 2026
Khadija Baloch, daughter of Peer Jan and a resident of Hirrnok, Kech, was abducted from the BMC Hostel in Quetta on 21 April 2026. She was a nursing student pursuing her education at the time of her enforced disappearance.
Zarnaaz — 29 April 2026
Zarnaaz, daughter of Shafiq, an 18-year-old resident of Kech, was forcibly disappeared on 29 April 2026. She was a housewife, and her disappearance demonstrates that even young Baloch women are not spared from this practice.
Zubaida — 29 April 2026
Zubaida, wife of Haji Badal and a resident of Tejaban, Kech, was forcibly disappeared from her home on 29 April 2026. A housewife, she was taken from the safety of her residence.
Habiba Peerjan — 25 May 2026
Habiba Peerjan, daughter of Peer Muhammad and a resident of Nazarabad, Tump, Kech, was forcibly disappeared on 25 May 2026 at approximately 12:40 AM from Gulshan-e-Mazdoor, 3rd Street, Baldia Town, Karachi. A poet and artist, Habiba was subjected to enforced disappearance for the second time.