A journalist has allegedly been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan’s Barkhan district on Saturday, raising concerns among human rights organizations and press freedom groups.
According to reports, Asif Kareem Khetran, a local journalist affiliated with Barkhan Press Club, was last seen on March 15. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir said he had previously reported receiving threats.
“Extremely concerned over the enforced disappearance of @AsifKareemTweet,” she wrote on X. “He had informed me since 2024 about army officials who were threatening and intimidating him. They kept calling him to an army camp and abducted his other family members before disappearing him.”
Days before his disappearance, Asif Kareem posted on social media, claiming that Pakistani forces had raided his home. He also alleged that local authorities had sealed his shop, describing it as an attempt to silence him.
There has been no official statement from security forces or the Barkhan administration regarding his disappearance.
Journalists in Balochistan have increasingly faced threats, harassment, and enforced disappearances in recent years. Human rights organizations have condemned the latest incident and demanded his immediate and safe release.
Balochistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, with press freedom groups warning that journalists face growing risks for covering human rights issues and security affairs in the region.