The body of a missing Pakistani journalist was found in the southwestern region of the country on 28 April, according to local media reports. Independent investigations have so far ruled out the possibility of his death being work-related.

According to the Express Tribune, the bullet-riddled bodies of Sadiq Baloch, a member of Human Rights Commission Pakistan and a journalist for Pasni, and Yousaf Nazar, a member of the Baloch Student Organisation, were found in the Ormara area of Balochistan.

During the week, five other bodies were found in Balochistan, each carrying gunshot wounds. According to Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), all five bodies were identified and were on a list of missing persons.

140 bodies carrying bullet wounds have been recovered in the last eight months, said VBMP chairperson Nasurllah Baloch, adding that the family members held security personnel responsible for killing the individuals and subsequently dumping the bodies.

“Our investigations so far have not revealed a link between Mr. Baloch’s death and his profession,” said IPI board member Owais Aslam Ali. Pakistan was the most dangerous country for journalists in 2010 according to the IPI Deathwatch, with 16 journalists killed while going about their work. On 13 January 2011, Wali Khan Babar, a reporter for Geo News television, was gunned down in what Geo News called a “targeted-killing attack” stemming directly from his recent reporting.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Baloch,” said IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie. “We are dismayed at the insecurity prevalent amongst the media personnel in Pakistan and demand that the government provide more protection to media workers operating in the country.”