Baloch Woman killed, hundreds activists detained in massive search operation in Quetta

Occupied Balochistan, Quetta: Pakistani Security forces unleashed a massive search operation in Baloch-populated localities of Quetta city throughout Tuesday, killing the mother of a Baloch political activist and rounding up around two hundred people hailing from various spheres of life. The crackdown has opened floodgates of criticism of Baloch nationalist parties which have called for widespread protest rallies to condemn the door-to-door search operation at Baloch households.

According to the details, security forces arrested around three hundred Balochs in search operations in Qili Ismail, Kechi Baig,Qili Qambarani, Sariab, and Kili Sarday, Wali Jet localities of Quetta city. Eyewitnesses said personnel of police, Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and the Frontier Corps (FC) entered into the houses and beat up different people before taking them into custody. The security forces have also been blamed for harassing and ill-behaving with Baloch women and children.

The whole day witnessed clashes between Pakistani government functionaries and the civilians who were beaten up, blindfolded and taken to unknown locations by the government. In one similar search operation, the mother of an activist from the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Sanaullah Mengal, was killed by the forces allegedly by applying violent means. Family sources and eyewitness said that the forces tortured the old lady which caused her death. The mother of the deceased was identified as Shahnaz Bibi.

The Baloch National Front (BNF) has strongly condemned the search operation and pledged to avenge the killing of Shahnaz Bibi saying that the Baloch traditions encouraged taking revenge for the killing of one person. The BNF, led by professor Saba Dashthayari and Shahzaib Baloch took out a protest rally in front of Quetta Press Club in the afternoon to protest against the arrest of hundreds of political workers and common civilians in the freshly launched search operation against the Baloch population.

The BNF announced to observe a complete strike throughout Balochistan on April 26 against the killing of Shahnaz Bibi and the arrests, saying that protest rallies would be taken outside press clubs in Turbat on April 22, Noshki (24 April) and Panjgur (25 April) to lodge a democratic protest against the grave violation of human rights in Balochistan by the security forces under the pretext of maintaining law and order.

Speaking in the protest rally, the BNF leaders said the Balochistan Package and the recent 18th Amendment Bill did not mean anything for Balochs, nor would it deter the Baloch national struggle in any form. The Baloch people do have a history of taking revenge for its martyrs rather than shedding tears over such instances when its brave sons are killed, they said. “We will not tolerate people like Mushahid Hussain Syed to step on the Baloch land,” said one of the speakers. Balochs have become very conscious about their national rights and the exploitation they have come under over the past many years.

The BNF leaders severely castigated the media for taking the government’s side and not reporting the widespread arrest of Balochs in the search operation.

Chief of the Balochistan National Party and former chief minister of Balochistan, Sardar Akhtar Mengal has also strongly condemned the crack down on the Baloch people in Quetta by terming it as a continuity of the previous government’s policies against the Baloch people. He described the arrests as the harbinger of a new military operation being launched in Balochistan.

He said the current governments in Islamabad and Balochistan were totally powerless and the real power still rested with the establishment which did not intentionally want the improvement of the situation in Balochistan. The establishment is working on a policy of genocide against the Baloch people while the Sariab Road operation has violated and disfigured the Baloch code of honor as the forces entered people’s homes and humiliated women and children.

The Mengal Sardar said the 18th amendment was totally meaningless for the Baloch people as no change had taken place in Balochistan even after the signing of the 18th amendment bill by the president of Pakistan. “There is no let-up in repression of the Baloch people. The democratic rulers are powerless. The military establishment wants to keep the Balochs as slaves in Pakistan but history clearly shows that we have never bowed on gunpoint and we will no surrender this time too,” he said.

The Baloch National Front (BNF) is going to protest against the operation in Karachi today (Wednesday) while Baloch students studying in Islamabad have also decided to take up the issue and demonstrate in the federal capital against the latest developments in Balochistan.

Anjuman-e-Itehad-e-Marri has also strongly condemned the brutal search operation against Baloch people in different areas of Quetta. According AIM’s statement the operation has been directly ordered by the governor and CM of Balochistan. “Along with the occupation force of Pakistan the state agent, so called Nawab and Sardars are also equally responsible for today’s attack and houses-to-house search in Baloch residential areas.

The AIM alleged that the murder of Shahnaz Bibi was an obvious act of terror by state (Pakistani) forces. They said Shahnaz Baloch’s murderers are not unseen; government of Islamabad and their appointed CMs and Governors are responsible for brutally killing her.

Baloch Bar Association has announced to boycott courts on 21 April against the arrest and killing innocent Baloch in Quetta. The Baloch Bar termed the grand search operation an illegal act of the government and they urged the International Human Right Organisations and International community to take notice of such brutal arrests and operation against innocent Baloch civilians.

The leader of BNM Asa Zafar while condemning the heinous attack and search operation in Quetta said that Pakistan security force cannot face the Baluch Sarmachaars, hence, they are targeting innocent civilians, including women and children. He said Baloch freedom struggle cannot be deterred by brutal and inhuman acts of the occupation security forces.

An ex MPA and serving police officers are involved in kidnapping for ransom and harassing people: BLA

Residents should not trust hand-written pamphalets. It is not our policy, Pakistani agencies and land mafia are trying to defame Baluch resistance organisations: Jihand Baloch.

Occupied Baluchistan: Baluch Resistance Organisation BLA has revealed that an ex PMA (Member of Provincial Assembly) and several serving police officers were involved in growing incidents of kidnappings for ransom and snatching motorcycles in different region of Baluchistan, in particular in Quetta. A spokesman of BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) Jihand Baloch told “Dunya News” that BLA was concerned about mounting occurrences of kidnapping for ransom and we (BLA) want to disclose that an organised group is involved in such action; this group is being looked after, assisted and protected by serving police officers and an ex MPA. He further said that we have compiled a detailed report in this regard. We have also found out that there are three or four groups that are involved in snatching motorcycles and other such incidents. BLA is making a list of all those engaged in these activities. On the right time we will share these lists and details with media, he explained.


The BLA spokesman further said some people are throwing pamphlets in order to harass the residents in the name of BLA. These people are trying to defame the Baloch resistance Organisations. We have investigated this matter and reached to the people involved in such activities; one property dealer is also among them (who are harassing other people in the name of BLA). Few days ago threatening pamphlets were thrown in people houses in Khalilurahman Road, Nava Killi and several areas of Saryab Road. I want to clarify that BLA has nothing to do with these pamphlets; we believe the land mafia is trying to scare people in the name of Baloch Resistance Organisations in order to occupy their properties.

He further said that this is neither our aim nor our policy and we want to tell the residents of Baluchistan that do not trust hand-written pamphlets. BLA doesn’t distribute such notices and it not a part of our policy; Pakistani agencies and land mafia are trying to vilify BLA. Jihand Baluch strongly warned all those people who are collecting funds in the name of BLA or harassing people in order to take over their properties. He said BLA asks these people to stop using the name of Baloch Resistance Organisation for their dirty purposes otherwise BLA reserves the right to take action against such people and we WILL take strong action against these people, he made it clear.

Strongly condemning the acidifying two little sisters in Daalbandin the BLA spokesman said that such extremist actions are contrary to Baloch code of honour and values. He said one so called organisation has carried out this attack which is conspiracy to disgrace the Baluch society. BLA is investigating the gory incident and whoever did it, strongest action will be taken against them.

Second attack on Balochs students in Punjab within a week

Punjab (Bhawalpur): Baloch students were assaulted by a group of Punjabi students in Bahawalpur, resulting in severe injuries to Shabir Baloch, Raza Ali Marri and Shahab Baloch. The Baloch students are members of BSO [Azaad]. Several members of BSO [A] have been victims of the series of attacks on Baloch students in Punjab. BSO [A] is a Baloch Student Organisation that advocates the Independence of the occupied state of Balochistan, which has been occupied by Pakistan and Iran; therefore the supporters of occupation have been attacking Baloch students wherever they find an opportunity to do so, with an objective to create fear amongst the people who advocate Balochistan’s Independence.


According to the details, Baloch students who are enrolled in the institutes in Bahawalpur on scholarship basis were in the rooms of their hostel in the precincts of Technical College Bhawalpur, when a group of Punjabi students belonging to MSF (which is the student wing of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Sharif) came and began abusing Baloch people and their movement for Independence in order to provoke the Baloch student so that they would protest against it and the Punjabis would get an excuse to attack them, but the Baloch students remained calm and peaceful, not getting any reason to attack the Punjabi students choose to attack with the core reason of the students being Baloch and assaulted due to the vicious attack several Baloch students suffered severe injuries. After the attack the Punjabi students left the place without any fear and it was clear to the Baloch students that this attack was supported by Pakistan’s institutions.

When the injured students were taken to a local hospital the doctors refused to treat the severely injured students and told the students that they won’t treat any Baloch patient, as the Balochs are struggling for the Independence of Balochistan. This act of the Pakistani doctors sheds light on the common thinking patterns of occupying people who do not respect any profession or human rights. Peace loving world can understand the behaviour and hatred of Pakistan army against Balochs by seeing this example of Pakistani Doctors.

Baloch Student Organization Azaad on this incident appeals all the students who are studying out of their countries to raise their voices against the incidents, to safeguard the lives of Baloch students who have left their country to acquire knowledge but are being refused medical treatment after being severely injured.

Two Baloch are abducted by plain-clothed agents with the help of police; no FIRs yet lodged

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-046-2010

16 April 2010
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PAKISTAN: Two Balochis are abducted by plain-clothed agents with the help of police; no FIRs yet lodged

ISSUES: Disappearances; illegal arrest and detention
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the illegal arrest, abduction and disappearance of two persons from the Baloch Nationalist Movement on two separate occasions in April. Eyewitnesses in both cases saw the arrests carried out illegally by persons in and out of uniform, and the family of neither man have been contacted by the authorities responsible. The local police stations have refused to file First Information Reports in both cases.

Military and security agents remain largely unchallenged by the government on their high rate of illegal arrests and abductions – often with the help of uniformed police. This is despite a Supreme Court order in February for police cooperation on the issue.




CASE DETAILS: (Based on reports received from the victims' families and media sources)

Mr. Mahboob Ali Wadela (pictured left) is a senior member of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), which is part of the Baloch National Front (BNF), a nationalist movement struggling for greater autonomy of the province. He had been traveling in a passenger vehicle in Karachi bound for Gwader, a port city in Balochistan on 2 April for just a few minutes when it was stopped by uniformed police from Maripur station in Yousuf Goth.

According to passengers on the bus two vans resembling army vehicles arrived at the scene almost immediately and plain-clothed persons emerged and began to check the identity cards of the passengers. When they came upon Mahboob they reportedly pulled him from the bus with his luggage and drove him away in one of the unmarked vehicles. The passenger vehicle was then prevented from leaving the area by police for some time.

When Mahboob was identified, according to the driver and passengers, one of the plain-clothed persons had announced 'that’s the one we’re looking for'. The eyewitness account of the passengers, from Vsh News on 4 April, can be seen here with English subtitles:


Speaking to media, the victim's brother Mr. Faisal Baloch has said that Mahboob was in Karachi for medical treatment for kidney pain and was intending to return after a short trip to Balochistan. The family does not know why he was arrested and has not been contacted with information on his whereabouts. They fear for his security in illegal custody and are concerned that the medicine that he needs may not be made available, which could also put him in danger.

Although Faisal tried to lodge an FIR at Marripur police station – in the area of the abduction – police refused to comply. After his insistence they filed a written complaint in the Roznamcha or daily police diary which can be seen here, along with a seating plan from the bus company, bearing Mahmood's name (No. 6). No FIR has yet been registered.

Mahboob's mother, Mrs Shamim, has written appeals to the Sindh High Court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (seen here), the prime minister, the provincial minister of the interior in Sindh and various other authorities to ask for information and assistance in locating her son. She has received no response.

Mir Bohair Bangulzai, another member of the BNF, was abducted from his car on Thursday 1 April 2010 from Askari Park in Quetta, Balochistan. According to eyewitnesses he was driving home when he was stopped by uniformed police officers. Persons then emerged from a double cabin Toyota Hi-Lux jeep and despite the efforts of passersby to rescue Bangulzai, abducted him and drove away. The vehicle was driven by a person in plain clothes who identified himself as Frontier Corp (FC) personnel.

Though man's relatives have contacted the local authorities, Quetta police have illogically and illegally cited false police procedure: they have told relatives that they will investigate the incident before they file an FIR.

Throwing acid on Baloch Women is a heinous crime: Hyrbyair Marri

London: patriot Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri while regarding the acid attack on two innocent Baloch girls in Dalbandin as a horrific act, has said that Baluch women held the highest place in Baluch society. No honoured Baluch or National defender can even think of doing any such unforgivable act because in Baloch society the position and honour of a woman is above everything. He said Baluch are secular and there is no space for religious extremism in Baluch society.

Narrow-mindedness and disrespecting women is not Baloch code of honour. Baluch Women played a significant role in Baloch freedom struggle alongside Baluch youth (men). The enemy seems very fearful of the growing popularity of liberation movement in Baluchistan and hence the hidden powers are trying to sabotage Baluch struggle through their newly invented acts of savageness.

Those who are deliberately attempting to persuade the Baluch (youth) towards religious extremism must know that the Baluch Nation has very rich traditions and codes of honour. Baloch have their own high standards of dignity and honour. Nations’ minds cannot be enhanced by acidifying them but positives changes can be made only through good behaviour and honouring Baluch traditions.

Baluch brothers and sisters if want to live in a dignified society then they must understand the background of Baloch history and take active part in Baluch freedom struggle on ideological basis.

Acidising two Baluch sisters, a conspiracy against Baluch freedom struggle: BNF

Baloch youth should take a stand against barbaric people: BSO (Azaad)
Occupied Baluchistan: BNF (Baluch National Front) has strongly condemned the acid attack on two innocent Baluch girls in Daalbandin town in Baluchistan. They termed the attack a conspiracy of Pakistani Intelligence Agencies against Baluch freedom struggle. BNF said after Talibanising Pashtun Tribal regions of Waziristan and Swat the Intelligence agencies (ISI and MI) are now instigating and supporting the Jihdi groups in Baluchistan.

The BNF said it was a failed attempt of the agencies to create fear among Baloch women in order to prevent them from taking active part in Baloch National Liberation Struggle. “Women have a very high position in Baluch society and if women interfere between wars the war will stop. Also raising hand on a woman in Baluch society is also considered a disgrace”.

BNF said that Pakistani agencies have exposed themselves by throwing acid on innocent Baluch girls. They also strongly condemned attack on Baluch students in Government College of Technology in Faisal Abad and chanting slogans against Baluch leaders and termed the attack as an anti Baluch policy of Punjab.

Earlier acting president of BNM Mr Asa Zafar had alleged that it was the same so called group that attacked Baluch students on International Cultural Day programme. He said this group was spreading terror in the name of Baluch traditions and culture.

Another attack on Baloch students in Punjab.

The students wing of Punjabi political leader Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan has attacked Baloch students in Government College of Technology Faisalabad’s hostel, badly injuring Ahsan Baloch, Chengez Baloch, Ahmed Baloch and Ajmal Baloch, who are members of Baloch Student Organization (Azaad). The planned assaulters warned all the Baloch students to leave Punjab immediately and chanted slogans against veteran Baloch leader Baba Khair Buksh Marri, Balochistan and Baloch people.

Previously Baloch students have been assaulted in different cities of Punjab and several Baloch students have been severely injured due to these attacks, whereas these attack are being carried out with the support of most powerful Sharif family in Punjab who have strong relationships with Pakistan army. The culprits are not only being safeguarded by Pakistan’s bureaucracy but are also being encouraged to torture Baloch students in Punjab.
Baloch students who have very few institutions to get enrolled in, are forced to go to Punjab in order to further their higher studies, but the threat to their lives in Punjab is darkening the future of Baloch students who would be having no access to higher education. Baloch students in Punjab should be treated as foreign students and the threat to their lives in not only threat to the lives of Baloch students but it is a threat to the lives of every foreign student who have left their countries to acquire higher education. Baloch Student Organization (Azaad) appeals all the foreign students around the world to stand against these inhuman activities of Pakistan and stand together to further the voice of humanity.

Speech of Abdulmalik Baloch about the confessions of the prisoners under severe torture

Peter Tatchell: The people of Baluchistan have a right to self-determination

Ever since its annexation by Pakistan in 1948, Baluchistan has been subjected to a quadruple whammy of military occupation, political domination, economic exploitation and cultural hegemony. Just like Israel's settlement programme on the West Bank, Islamabad has a settler scheme to colonise Baluchistan. It is encouraging Punjabis to move to the region. The aim is to make the Baluch people a minority in their own homeland.

Punjabi supremacists have imposed an alien language, Urdu, on Baluchi-speaking people. Borrowing from the tactics of apartheid in South Africa, which forced black children to be schooled in Afrikaans, Islamabad has dictated that Urdu is the compulsory language of instruction in Baluch educational institutions. The cultural conquest also involves the radical Islamification of the traditionally more secular Baluch nation. Large numbers of religious schools have been funded by Islamabad with a view to imposing Pakistan's harsher, more narrow-minded interpretation of Islam. This is fuelling fundamentalism.

The West's attitude towards the plight of the Baluch people is less than honourable. Because Britain and the US want Pakistan as an ally in the "war on terror", they have armed Pakistan and acquiesced with its suppression of the Baluch people. Pakistan's war against Baluchistan is strengthening the position of the Taliban, who have exploited the unstable, strife-ridden situation to establish bases to terrorise the... Baluch people and enforce the Talibanisation of Baluchistan. The Pakistani military... bases in Baluchistan are also hideouts from where Taliban fighters mount military operations in Afghanistan.

If the nations of the world want to strike a blow against the Taliban and fundamentalism, they should seek an end to Pakistan's repression in Baluchistan and support the Baluch people's right to self-determination. Baluch secular nationalism could act as a powerful bulwark against the Talibanisation of the country, which ultimately threatens all the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan – and the wider region.

The best way to resolve this issue would be a UN-supervised and monitored referendum to allow the people of Baluchistan to freely and democratically determine their own future. If tiny East Timor can be an independent nation, why not Baluchistan?

Sabz baath Baluchistan TV reporter along with five friends arrested by Pakistan FC

Occupied Balochistan, Turbat: A reporter of Sabz Baath Baluchistan along with five comrades has disappeared after they were detained by the FC, Baloch political parties and relatives strongly condemn their abduction and demanded the immediate release of Baloch reporter and friends. According to details Sabz baath Baluchistan, a private TV channel’s reporter Abid Ameen Baluch’s family has reported that on the night of Friday the Pakistan FC (Frontier Corps) have stopped the car of Mr Baluch and his friend at Atta Shad Degree College road and detained Abid Ameen Baluch along with five of his friends.

According colleagues of Abid when they contacted the FC about their arrest the FC has confirmed that the Baloch reporter and his friends were in their custody, the FC also said that they will be released after preliminary interrogation. The next morning when Mr Baluch and his friends did not return home, the family and friends contacted the FC again; first they would not pick the phone, eventually when they did answer the phone they said “We don’t have any Abid Ameen in our custody and neither did we detain anyone”. This sheer denial of the FC has added to the concern of the family of friend and they are extremely worried about the safety of Baloch reporter and his friends.

On the other hand Amin Baluch’s colleagues and family have protest in front of Turbat press club and demanded their immediate release. They said Pakistani security forces were terrorists in the guise of protectors of the people.