Balochistan has become a Bermuda Triangle where no one knows who will be the next to go missing. The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act 2025, passed by the Balochistan Assembly, has made the abduction of citizens lawful and a big justification for the law enforcement agencies to pick anyone from anywhere no one will ask them. The said law has become a soft weapon against the innocent people and social and political activists in Balochistan.
Meer Khan Lehri, a law graduate from the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) began practicing as an associate lawyer in Balochistan. After six months, he discontinued his practice and started preparing for jobs. Meer Khan was a brilliant student amongst his classmates and never participated in any political movement during his whole degree program.
In 2024, He appeared in judicial exams for the post of judicial Magistrate and passed the written part for Judicial Magistrate, due to lack in merit he was not called for an interview.He also passed Prosecutor Inspector in the police department and was appointed as a Prosecutor Inspector (BPS-16) through the Balochistan Public Service Commission. Before his disappearance, he shared his excitement with me about receiving an official appointment letter from the department.
Unfortunately, he was abducted by state agencies on 13th August at 2 pm, from Lore Kareez Library in Quetta, where he was preparing for the viva for the post of Tehsildar (BPS-16). After abduction, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) shifted him to an unknown location and on 15th August he was presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court Quetta.The court sent him back, issuing an order for physical remand without any proof. He was charged with serious allegations of terrorism, despite no evidence on record.
Meer Khan’s family is being harassed and tortured, and the father of Meer khan has been denied access to him according to state laws allowing family and counsel is a right of accused person and relatives as well. His counsel alao was not allowed to meet him in the police station to discuss the legal position of his client. Within a week, His father visited the CTD police station many times but his father was told that Meer Khan was not with them.
As a province, Balochistan has been treating for a decades as a colony of the state, where the people have no actual representation in the assembly and no access to justice. The situation is alarming in Balochistan because on a daily basis educated young people going missing and facing fake allegations before the court and ongoing social media trial by the state hired persons. This is not just Meer Khan’s story; every educated Baloch is living in trauma.
The politicians of Balochistan seem unconcerned, and the courts are not fulfilling their duty to protect innocent citizens. Mainstream political parties and the national media are silent, while state-hired individuals continue to spread propaganda against innocent citizens and their families of missing persons.
If the federal government and the people of Pakistan do not listen to the voices of the voiceless people of Balochistan, they will regret it in the near future. There is a legal maxim that “Justice delay is justice denied”. Unfortunately in Balochistan justice is not being served, and the people of Balochistan are left at the mercy of God.”
The Author is a Practicing lawyer at High Court Balochistan
