On March 23, 2026, Pakistani security forces abducted Mumtaz Baloch, a fifth-semester student in the Balochi Department at the University of Balochistan.

Baloch was detained in the Kolwahi Bazaar area of Apsar in Turbat and taken to an undisclosed location. His family reported that authorities had not given the reasons for his detention nor provided information about his condition. Some sources indicated Baloch was released on April 1, 2026.

The abduction follows a pattern of enforced disappearances of Baloch activists, professionals, journalists, and students, often carried out by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, army, or Frontier Corps. Students are among the most commonly targeted of these groups.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the enforced disappearance of a university student. 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://x.com/fahadbal0ch_/status/2036060816714391630?s=46&t=dOAjqFnMvAVUog9fBqfKlA
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/enforced-disappearances-persist-as-baloch-student-goes-missing/
https://thecsrjournal.in/mumtaz-baloch-reportedly-missing-after-detention-in-turbat-raises-concern/
https://thebalochistanpost.net/2026/03/student-allegedly-forcibly-disappeared-in-turbat-vbmp-calls-for-recovery/