Balochistan – A few days ago, social media was abuzz after a prominent journalist claimed that Zarina Mari, a teacher from Dera Bugti, had been abducted. The report was presented as if a major incident had occurred in Balochistan. Within hours, it spread across multiple platforms, inflaming public emotions and framing the story as a new case of a human rights “disappearance.”
However, sources within the Balochistan government quickly dismissed the report as entirely false. According to an official spokesperson speaking with HTN, there is no record of a teacher named Zarina Mari in Dera Bugti, nor did any abduction take place. The claim was thus exposed as a propaganda effort aimed at creating unrest in the province, discrediting state institutions, and manipulating public opinion through a fabricated narrative.
This is not the first instance of such fabricated stories in Balochistan. Numerous previous cases have surfaced where “missing persons” narratives were manufactured, propagated via social media campaigns, and later disproven by facts.
One notable example is the case of Abdul Wadood Stakzai. His sister circulated images and stories in human rights circles portraying him as a “missing person,” creating a nationwide social media storm. Later, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) admitted that Abdul Wadood Stakzai was not missing but a trained suicide attacker who had died during an operation. This revelation dismantled yet another false narrative. Another prominent case occurred on 25 July 2024, when groups such as Paank and Baam reported Sohaib Langove as a missing person. A year later, his name appeared in a BLA press release, announcing that he had been killed as a terrorist in an intelligence-based operation in Kalat. Videos and photos later showed Sohaib participating in protests alongside Mahrang Langove. He reportedly served as her personal guard and was also identified as her cousin.
Experts note that these fabricated stories in Balochistan often aim to tarnish the state’s reputation internationally while providing terrorist networks cover under the guise of human rights. Each new “disappearance” typically follows a recurring propaganda formula: a fictitious name, an emotional post, fabricated details, and eventual silence once the truth emerges.
The case of Zarina Mari serves as an important reminder: not every viral “disappearance” story in Balochistan is based on reality. Time and again, the same propaganda techniques resurface, sometimes under the name of Zarina Mari, other times as Abdul Wadood Stakzai or Sohaib Langove. It is crucial for the public, media, and policymakers to verify such reports before treating them as factual.
