Families Distance Themselves from Banned Group Members Following Sarfraz Bugti’s Statement

Islamabad: Following the provincial government’s firm stance, several families of individuals associated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army have publicly declared their disassociation. The move comes after Sarfraz Bugti, Chief Minister of Balochistan, warned that if relatives of those hiding in the mountains fail to notify authorities and those individuals are later found involved in terrorist activities, action could also be taken against family members.

In response to Bugti’s statement, families from different areas claimed that their relatives joined the group of their own volition and that they have no connection with them. Some stated that their family members have been away from home for a long time and deliberately went to the mountains.

سرفراز بگٹی نے ابھی صرف اعلان کیا تھا کہ جو بھی شخص پہاڑوں پر ہے اگر اس کے گھر والے ہمیں نہیں بتائیں گے تو پھر کل کو اگر وہ دہشتگردی میں ملوث ہوا تو کاروائی گھر والوں کے خلاف بھی ہوگی ۔ اب آپ دیکھیں کہ وہ لوگ جن کے متعلق کہا جاتا تھا لاپتہ ہیں ان کو ایجنسیوں نے غائب کردیا ہے ان… pic.twitter.com/W8stnsm4Ey

— Zahid Baloch (@ZahidlBaloch) February 14, 2026

Historically, many individuals in the region have been reported as missing, with accusations of enforced disappearances sometimes directed at state institutions by nationalist groups. However, the recent declarations by families have added a new dimension to this ongoing debate.

Authorities maintain that the purpose of this approach is to clearly differentiate between genuinely missing persons and those involved in militancy, helping reveal the facts and prevent false allegations. Meanwhile, human rights advocates continue to call for transparent investigations and lawful action in such cases.