On October 10, 2024, members of Pakistan’s armed forces abducted three Baloch students from their university hostels.

Among those abducted were Punjab University student Ikram Mengal, Superior University Lahore student Shamrez Badini, and University of Lahore student Deedag Baloch. Security camera footage posted to social media showed Mengal’s abduction at Punjab University: in the videos, armed men enter a student hostel and leave with Mengal. Mengal was later released shortly after his abduction.

The abductions appear to be part of a pattern of abductions of Baloch activists. According to the Baloch Students Council, Baloch students have been specifically targeted.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the enforced disappearance of students. While state security forces have a responsibility to maintain security and safety, they must also respect international human rights standards, including by refraining from discriminatory actions against students based on their identities. In addition to harm to the immediate victims, the disappearance of students undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/six-more-including-students-abducted-by-pakistani-security-forces-in-balochistan-report20241011161817/
https://x.com/BSCPunjab/status/1844344819147297105 (video)
https://balochwarna.com/2024/10/10/four-baloch-students-abducted-from-punjab-and-three-youths-whisked-away-in-balochistan/
https://thebalochistanpost.com/2024/10/%d9%85%d8%b2%db%8c%d8%af-4-%d8%a8%d9%84%d9%88%da%86-%d9%86%d9%88%d8%ac%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%ac%d8%a8%d8%b1%db%8c-%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%be%d8%aa%db%81/
https://hrcbalochistan.com/balochistan-seven-go-missing-in-two-days/