Islamabad: In a deadly escalation of targeted violence in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, veteran journalist Abdul Latif was shot dead on Saturday, May 24, after reportedly resisting an attempted abduction at his home in Mashkay, Awaran district. The attackers, said to be unidentified gunmen, opened fire in front of Latif’s wife and children, killing him on the spot.
Journalist unions and human rights bodies are calling the incident a part of a broader pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, often referred to as the state's "kill and dump" policy.
Veteran Balochistan Journalist Killed
Deputy Superintendent of Police Daniyal Kakar confirmed the incident, stating, “Armed men stormed Abdul Latif’s home and attempted to abduct him. When he resisted, they shot him dead before fleeing the scene.” Authorities have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made so far.
Latif was known for his fearless coverage of human rights abuses and political resistance in Balochistan. He had contributed to publications including Daily Intikhab and Aaj News.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee asserted that this attack marks yet another chapter in the targeted silencing of Baloch voices. “This is not just a tragedy for one family, it is an act of terror meant to silence an entire people,” the Committee said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Latif’s Son Was Found Dead After Kidnapping
The journalist’s killing comes months after his eldest son, Saif Baloch, along with seven other family members, was abducted and later found dead. The repeated targeting of the family has intensified outrage among Baloch rights groups and journalists.
Shalee Baloch of the Baloch Women Forum described the murder as emblematic of a wider campaign of repression. “The egregious killing of journalist Abdul Latif… highlights the ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan. The silence surrounding the Baloch genocide is untenable,” she wrote on X.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the killing, urging international press freedom bodies to take urgent notice and demand accountability.
