Balochistan [Pakistan], May 18 : Renowned Brahui-language poet, author and academic Professor Ghamkhwar Hayat was shot dead near his residence in Balochistan's Noshki district.
The killing has sparked outrage among rights organisations, political activists and literary circles, who have linked the incident to the worsening security and human rights situation in the province, as reported by The Balochistan Post.
According to The Balochistan Post, local sources stated that unidentified gunmen opened fire on Hayat in the Killi Mengal area near his home. The attackers were allegedly associated with a state-backed armed network commonly referred to in the region as a "death squad".
No official statement regarding arrests or responsibility had been released at the time of reporting. Professor Hayat, whose real name was Mohammad Khan, served as an assistant professor at Government Boys Degree College Noshki.
Widely respected in Brahui literary circles, he authored around 20 books and earned recognition as a poet, translator, fiction writer and essayist. He also played a key role in promoting Brahui culture through literary organisations, including Raskoh Adabi Diwan and Hotan Culture Academy.
Hayat had previously been placed on Pakistan's Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a list that subjects individuals to strict monitoring and restrictions, including limits on travel, banking and employment clearances.
Human rights groups condemned the killing, calling it part of a wider campaign of intimidation targeting intellectuals and activists in Balochistan. PAANK, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, described Hayat as a major literary figure whose death had shocked students, writers and academics across the region. Political parties also reacted strongly, as highlighted by The Balochistan Post.
The Balochistan National Party stated that the assassination reflected the unsafe environment faced by academics, lawyers, politicians and students in the province. BNM Chairman Dr Naseem Baloch alleged that the killing formed part of a broader pattern of violence aimed at silencing Baloch intellectual and cultural voices, as reported by The Balochistan Post.