Sohbatpur, 1 April

Human rights organisation 'Paank' has strongly condemned the killing of seven family members in Balochistan's Sohbatpur district and demanded swift justice and accountability. It alleged that government institutions were unable to resolve such issues and allowed the violence to escalate unchecked. No immediate arrests have been made. It demanded a clear and impartial investigation, and urged the authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators.

The incident took place on the morning of 27 March when armed assailants attacked a small house in Goth Mir Dauran Khan Khosa, Deh Sanhiri near the Pat feeder canal and killed every member of the family before setting the house on fire. The deceased include Ali Hassan, his wife Zeba, their four sons and their daughter, the youngest of whom was only nine months old. Ongoing land disputes may have fuelled the killings.

They also appealed to civil society and human rights groups to raise their voices against the persistent violence in Balochistan, where targeted killings and lawlessness are fuelling an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. Balochistan region has been suffereing human rights violations, including reports of killings and forced displacement. Reportedly, the area is abundant in natural resources but the local communities rarely benefit from them.