Exposing BYC's Shifting Narratives

False narratives surrounding BYC's claims about missing persons have been challenged on multiple fronts and subjected to thorough scrutiny by state authorities. Findings of the judicial commission later revealed that many of the so-called 'missing persons' were, in fact, involved in serious acts of terrorism.

Most of the missing persons are those who voluntarily leave their homes to join a militant outfit and then are either killed in some terrorist activity or resurface later as an accomplice in a crime enterprise unearthed by the LEAs. The number of total missing persons registered by Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CoIoED) is 13464, among which 2911 cases (21%) are related to Balochistan. Out of these the CoIoED has resolved 2459 cases (success rate of 84%) leaving 452 cases unresolved. The resolved cases include individuals who had died in accidents with bodies unclaimed, deaths due to personal vendettas, illegal crossing over to neighboring countries, and individuals who had become part of terrorist outfits. Just few of the many examples of the reality of missing persons are listed below:

●     Tayyab Baloch alias Ilyas Lala, son of Maula Bakhsh, a resident of Noshki, allegedly went missing and an FIR was registered in April 2024. He was found involved in a suicide attack on an FC camp in Bela.

●     Karim Jan, resident of Turbat, was reported missing on May 25, 2022 and he was neutralised in the Gwadar attack for his involvement in terrorist activities

●     Imtiaz Ahmed, son of Raza Ahmed, was among the missing persons. He was also killed in security forces' operation against terrorists in Turbat.

●     Wadood Satekzai was falsely reported by her sister Gul Zadi, an active member of BYC, as a “missing person” while he was, in reality, involved in terrorist activities. When a suicide bombing attack took place in Bolan, it was revealed that Wadood was the suicide bomber, exposing the entire false narrative surrounding his "disappearance".

●     Saleem Baloch, who was among the terrorists killed during an operation in Ziarat, was baselessly claimed to be missing and in the custody of security forces.

The fact remains that foreign-funded militant outfits are used to exploit individuals by luring them to take up arms against the state using coercion and bribery. Later when these terrorists are eliminated in operations conducted by security forces, the terrorist sympathizers portray them as missing persons.

Once this fabrication was exposed, a noticeable shift occurred in BYC’s rhetoric - from the narrative of missing persons and enforced disappearances to more sensational claims of extrajudicial executions and ethnic cleansing. This strategic pivot is an attempt to maintain relevance and evoke continued sympathy in the face of discredited earlier assertions.

Moreover, the false accusations regarding executions and disappearances are an attempt to overshadow the efforts the state has made for peace and development in Balochistan.  In light of this, the foreign-funded militant outfits have now begun targeting civilians in Balochistan. Notable cases that reflect this truth are listed below:

●     The Musakhel attack in Balochistan left 23 passengers dead after they were brutally ambushed. BLA took responsibility for the attack in which passenger buses and trucks were targeted.The  terrorists forced passengers off the vehicles before executing them.

●     The Quetta Railway Station Blast left 26 people dead and 61 others were injured in a suicide bombing. The terrorist arrived as a passenger carrying a bag, moved into the crowd and detonated the bomb, killing and injuring nearly 100 people

●     The Mangochar Ambush by Baloch separatist militants resulted in the deaths of 18 passengers. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

●     The Jaffar Express Train was hijacked by BLA terrorists, who ambushed the Peshawar-bound train carrying 440 passengers, opening fire and taking hostages. 21 passengers were killed by the terrorists.

By associating terrorist acts in the category of extrajudicial killings and ethnic cleansing, the terrorist sympathizers such as BYC attempt to portray them as oppressed in a bid to mislead the public and malign the state institutions. This highly toxic and organized propaganda is used not only to mislead the public but also to raise criticism against state institutions. Whereas the ground realities are completely different.

While BYC attempts to attribute cases of tribal notables and scholars deaths solely to the state, a deeper examination, including findings from judicial commissions, reveals a more complex reality. A significant number of individuals portrayed as "executed" by the BYC are, in fact, often victims of tribal disputes, conflicts stemming from illicit relations, or fatal rifts among various terrorist factions operating in the region. These deaths are then exploited by the BYC to malign state institutions and security forces, often without providing credible evidence, relying instead on baseless accusations to further their narrative against the state.

In light of the increased targeting of civil notables and citizens by terrorist organizations, the state reinforced legal mechanisms to counter such activities. Law enforcement authorities have been empowered under Article 245 of the Constitution, Section 131-A of the Criminal Procedure Code (1898), and Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) to effectively address security concerns and maintain stability. As space continues to shrink for militant propaganda, and earlier claims of BYC's missing persons agenda being exposed, BYC appears to be shifting its narrative from missing persons to outright glorification of terrorists; all in the name of human rights; but all in the lust of foreign funding.

Pakistan stands as a responsible state, committed to the prosperity of Balochistan through economic development and peacebuilding. Massive infrastructure projects, education programs, and youth empowerment initiatives have been launched to uplift local communities. Instead of acknowledging these advancements, propaganda machines fabricate stories to create division and hinder progress. The misinformation campaigns orchestrated by Indian proxies only seek to disrupt stability and promote separatist ideologies. By unveiling these tactics, the people of Balochistan can see the truth - a future built on unity and progress, not division and deception.