This update comes from the Paank – Baloch Human Rights Organisation
The 28 August 2014 Zikri Massacre in Awaran: A Forgotten Atrocity
3 Mins Read
Published on Paank - On the night of 28 August 2014, Military Intelligence officer Usman, accompanied by two armed men, stormed the Zikiri community’s place of worship in Ziarat-e-Dan, Awaran. What began as an evening of prayer and faith turned into a night of horror. Seven men were killed, and four others were wounded in cold blood.
For decades, the Pakistani army has committed grave human rights violations in Awaran district, Balochistan. These abuses include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, collective punishment of families of political activists, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.
Beyond physical violence, the military has deliberately exploited religious and social divisions to weaken the Baloch national movement. Awaran, once a place of resilience and cultural strength, has instead been forced into an environment of fear and division.
The Zikri Massacre – 28 August 2014
On the night of 28 August 2014, Military Intelligence officer Usman, accompanied by two armed men, stormed the Zikri community’s place of worship in Ziarat-e-Dan, Awaran. What began as an evening of prayer and faith turned into a night of horror.
Seven men were killed, and four others were wounded in cold blood.
Those Killed:
Bakhtiar Baloch – farmer, father of Raza Jahangir (former Secretary General of BSO-Azad) – Teertage, Awaran
Mazar Baloch – son of Syad Muhammad, father of Alim Baloch (President of the Baloch National Movement) – Harooni Dan, Awaran
Saeed Ahmed – son of Dilmurad (labourer) – Siah Ghazi, Awaran
Niaz Baloch – son of Bangul (labourer) – Siah Ghazi, Awaran
Allah Bakhsh – son of Usman (farmer) – Kahan Zeelag, Awaran
Dad Jan – son of Mir Dost (farmer) – Joser Bazdad, Awaran
Haji Umitan – son of Assa (labourer) – Harooni Dan, Awaran
Those Injured:
Dushambay (Teertage)
Noor Jan (Harooni Dann – later forced into suicide on 20 May 2021)
Pir Bakhsh (Bazdad)
Ghulam Muhammad (Gorestani)
This massacre was not random. It deliberately targeted the fathers of political activists such as Bakhtiar Baloch and Mazar Baloch. The intention was clear: to break the spirit of political resistance by punishing families.
A Pattern of Persecution
The attack was part of a wider cycle of collective punishment in Awaran. Just one year earlier, on 14 August 2013, Bakhtiar’s son, Raza Jahangir, was extrajudicially executed by Pakistani forces in Turbat, alongside BNM leader Imdad Bojair.
The brutality did not end there. Survivor Noor Jan, who was injured in the 2014 attack, was relentlessly harassed by the army. On 20 May 2021, under unbearable pressure and repeated threats to hand over his daughter Nazal, who had married pro-independence activist Naeem Dad, he took his own life. His death was not only an act of despair but also a desperate form of resistance to humiliation and coercion.
Collective Punishment in Balochistan
The Awaran atrocities are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic military strategy. Families of activists are routinely targeted: fathers killed, mothers and daughters threatened, and entire communities silenced through intimidation and violence.
The military exploits religion as a weapon, attempting to manufacture divisions where none exist within Baloch society.
This policy of collective punishment seeks to destroy not just individuals but the very fabric of resistance. It replaces dignity with fear, faith with grief, and community with mistrust.
1st G M Syed International Conference | London, UK | 18 January 2026
This video documents the 1st G.M. Syed International Conference, held on 18 January 2026 in London, United Kingdom, to commemorate the 122nd birth anniversary of Sain G.M. Syed, the father ...of the Sindhi nation. Organised by the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), the conference brought together intellectuals, scholars, political activists, and members of the Sindhi diaspora to reflect on the life, ideas, and enduring political legacy of Sain G.M. Syed.
The footage captures key moments from the event, including speeches, discussions, audience participation, and the overall atmosphere of remembrance and solidarity.
Copyright Notice:
All video content is the property of Aomar Karim. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, redistribution, or use of this video, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
----------------------------------
Welcome to @AomarKarim Dive into Balochistan's heart as we discuss education, science, technology, entertainment, society, and politics. Subscribe for insightful conversations and a holistic perspective
----------------------------|Thanks |------------------------Show More
Now Playing
1st G M Syed International Conference | London, UK | 18 January 2026
This video documents the 1st G.M. Syed International Conference, held on 18 January 2026 in ...
This video documents the 1st G.M. Syed International Conference, held on 18 January 2026 in London, United Kingdom, to commemorate the 122nd birth anniversary of Sain G.M. Syed, the father ...of the Sindhi nation. Organised by the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), the conference brought together intellectuals, scholars, political activists, and members of the Sindhi diaspora to reflect on the life, ideas, and enduring political legacy of Sain G.M. Syed.
The footage captures key moments from the event, including speeches, discussions, audience participation, and the overall atmosphere of remembrance and solidarity.
Copyright Notice:
All video content is the property of Aomar Karim. Unauthorised copying, reproduction, redistribution, or use of this video, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
----------------------------------
Welcome to @AomarKarim Dive into Balochistan's heart as we discuss education, science, technology, entertainment, society, and politics. Subscribe for insightful conversations and a holistic perspective
----------------------------|Thanks |------------------------Show More
Now Playing
BNM Protest Outside Downing Street Demand Justice for Disappeared Baloch Women | London 2026
On Sunday, 4 January 2026, activists and supporters of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) held ...
On Sunday, 4 January 2026, activists and supporters of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) held a protest outside 10 Downing Street, London, to highlight the alarming rise in enforced disappearances ...of Baloch women and children.
The demonstration condemned Pakistan’s alleged state-led abductions in Balochistan, which protesters described as serious violations of human rights and international law. Participants urged the British government, United Nations, and international human rights organisations to take immediate action and hold those responsible accountable.
London-based Baloch political activist and journalist Aomar Karim participated in the protest, showing solidarity with the families of missing Baloch women. He called on the international community and human rights defenders to raise their voices for Balochistan and to break the silence surrounding enforced disappearances.
By gathering at the heart of British democracy, protesters demanded international intervention to end enforced disappearances and state violence in Balochistan.
Welcome to @AomarKarim Dive into Balochistan's heart as we discuss education, science, technology, entertainment, society, and politics. Subscribe for insightful conversations and a holistic perspective
Join Aomar Karim’s Official Channel
