Balochistan Tragedy, Child Killed at Checkpoint Highlights Civilian Neglect by Pakistani Forces

Pakistan, Oct 23 : A tragic incident in Balochistan’s Uthal region has claimed the life of a young child after Pakistani forces delayed medical assistance during extended checkpoint inspections, reports The Balochistan Post.

The episode unfolded overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, when passenger buses traveling through Uthal were subjected to lengthy and strict security checks starting around 3 a.m. and continuing until sunrise. Passengers were stranded for hours, unable to access urgent medical care.

Witnesses recounted that the child’s parents repeatedly pleaded with security personnel as their daughter’s condition worsened, but the requests were ignored. “The soldiers were conducting the checks very slowly. Before dawn, we heard that a child had become seriously ill. Her parents begged for help, but they were not allowed to move,” one passenger said.

Another traveler stated, “We all begged the officers to let the bus go because the girl had fainted, but they said no vehicle could move until the checking ended. After some time, the child stopped breathing.”

Locals emphasized that such delays at Uthal checkpoint are common, with buses frequently detained for hours regardless of passengers’ health emergencies. “If these checks are really about security, there should at least be a system for people in medical distress,” one witness added.

Human rights groups have long criticised Pakistan’s militarised policies in Balochistan, arguing that they inflict undue suffering on civilians and obstruct access to healthcare. Despite repeated tragedies, authorities have yet to implement reforms or acknowledge the human cost of these operations.