in Balochistan at New York rally
United Nations, Sep.21 (ANI): Baloch leaders and activists held a protest rally in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York to demand international intervention to resolve the Balochistan crisis. The rally was organized by the Washington-based Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA), the Balochistan National Congress (BNC) and the Moscow-based Baloch Unity Organization, and was attended by representatives of Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun and Hindu communities living in North America.
Dr. Jumma Marri, the President of the Baloch Unity Organization, came all the way from Moscow to attend the protest."The ongoing Pakistani and Iranian military aggression, gross human right violations, war crimes and Genocide have surpassed all limits", a statement issued by Baloch Society of North America said.Dr. Wahid Baloch, the President of BSO-NA and chief organizer of the rally, called upon United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki moon and other world leaders to intervene in Balochsitan in order to save Baloch lives."Balochistan was never a part of Pakistan or Iran, but an independent sovereign state, and was illegally occupied, divided and forcefully annexed into these countries against the Baloch will and consent. Both Pakistan and Iran are in violation of international law by occupying Balochistan illegally against the Baloch will and consent, "claimed Dr. Wahid.He added "We want an end of the illegal occupation and re-unification of our land Balochistan. We are one Nation as Baloch. We have been divided by artificially drawn borders, which we do not recognize. These artificially drawn borders are separating us from our friends and families ", he continued.Dr. Marri called upon the United Nations to put pressure on Pakistan to comply with conventions on enforced disappearance and torture it brazenly refuses to sign."This attitude has encouraged Pakistan to flout all laws and norms regarding human rights and civil liberties in Balochistan", said Dr. Marri.He added, "The situation in Balochistan is no secret, because even the Chief Justice of its Supreme Court laments the human right abuses and extra-judicial killings by the premier intelligence agencies, the Army and the Frontier Corps. He, on record, has blamed them and summoned them to court, but the abductions, killing and subsequent dumping has not only continued, but increased substantially. "The protest rally was also addressed by several prominent Sindhi, Pashtun and Hindu community leader and activists.Mashal Khan Takkar, the Founder of Great Afghanistan Movement (GAM), in his speech said that all Pashtuns stand by their Baloch brothers in their quest for freedom and justice.He said that the Baloch-Pashtun have had strong bonds of brotherhood for centuries.Dr. Ghulam Nabi Unar of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and Habib Bhutto, the central acting president of Jeay Sindh student Federation, deplored Pakistan's atrocities and human right violations in Sindh and ask for a full UN investigation of their leader Bashir Ahmaed Qureshi's murder by Pakistan agencies."The UN must pressure Pakistan to respect the rights of Hindus and the rights of all other minorities in Pakistan and provide them full safety and security", he demanded.Arshad Umrani, the president of Balochistan Strategy Forum, USA (BSF), who came from Chicago with Hammal Baloch and Qurratulain Umrani to join the protest, denounced Pakistan's state terrorism against the Baloch and Sindhi people in Sindh and Balochistan and reiterated his full support for Baloch people.The protest in New York coincided with the ten-day long visit of a five member UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances comprising Olivier de Frouville, the Chair-Rapporteur in Pakistan.After meeting political leaders in Pakistan and the family members of missing persons in Quetta, UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances pressed the government and the judiciary to fulfill their duty to thoroughly investigate the enforced disappearances and bring the perpetrators to justice.(ANI)
Of Human Rights Of Baloch People
A group of protesters from several Baloch organizations gathered on 24 September in front of the Palais des Nations to denounce the ongoing human rights violations against the Baloch people in Iran and Pakistan. On 24 September 2012 UNPO Members West Balochistan and Balochistan staged a joint demonstration with activists of the Balochistan Human Right Organization (BHRO) and baloch leaders Nasser Boladai and Noordin Mengal to protest against executions, forced disappearances, and extra judicial killings in Balochistan in front of the United Nations Palais des Nations, Geneva. They were holding banners protesting the killing of Baloch at the hands of Pakistan and Iran security forces.
They condemned the brutal police and paramilitary operations in Balochistan that resulted in the death of scores of innocent civilians. The siege of Baloch towns by the police and military forces have caused the worst forms of human rights abuses in occupied Balochistan.They held placards with the pictures of Baloch victims, for instance Mr Abdula Malik Mulazadeh who was killed by the Iranian regime in Pakistan, and Wahid Shahbakhsh and Nasir Shanbizahi who were executed without trial. They also held pictures of Baloch Civil right activist and blogger, Yaghob Mehrnihad, who was arrested in March 2008 and executed on 4th September 2008. He was the first blogger to be executed for his activities as a blogger and human right activist. They were also holding pictures of Baloch political prisoner like Mr. Ismail Mulazadeh, Sakhi Rigi, Ahmad Zafar Diddgaah, and Mohammad Sabir Malik Raisi, the latter a Baloch youth who was arrested in 2009 when he was 16 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has now been transferred to an unknown place in Iran and is thus deprived from any contacts with his family.The organizations denounced the arrests, kidnappings and forced disappearances of Baloch student teachers, journalists and political and cultural activists. They appealed to the international community to take action against the continuous human rights violations happening in Balochistan.There seems consensus among Pakistani and American experts that the outcome of Tuesday's presidential elections in the United States would barely lead to any policy change in Washington towards Pakistan. The Baloch diaspora in the United States, nonetheless, views the US polls with a different set of expectations. They have their reasons to support both the candidates because none of them has indicated to be soft on Pakistan.The Baloch say that whether it is a Democrat or a Republican who wins the battle for the White House, what serves their interests is the notion that Pakistan be destined to face a demanding American president. An administration in Washington that rebukes Pakistan for its human rights record provides the Baloch some hope of relief from Islamabad's current harsh policies.
In 2012, Balochistan attracted significant attention in Washington. Expressions of concern by the US Congress and the State Department over the situation in Balochistan has worried Islamabad.On their part, the Pakistani government and media have repeatedly objected to discussions in the US that addressed Balochistan, arguing that issues pertaining to the region were Pakistan's "internal matter".Members of the Baloch diaspora have been actively interacting with US policymakers, human rights groups and the media to create awareness with respect to the situation in Balochistan.Also, sections of the Pakistani military and right-wing politicians believe the United States supports the Baloch nationalist movement.There is no official confirmation of such a policy from the US government. However, at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington have been Authorities Endeavouring to cancel and Disrupt events in the U.S. That Discuss Balochistan capital. The region, on the other hand, is getting more attention than ever before at American think-tanks and universities.Was Outraged in Islamabad Feb 2 012 When Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher , a member of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chaired an exclusive session on Balochistan.Joined by three Republicans and one Democratic member of the US Congress, the hearing supported the Baloch demand for an independent state.Pakistan's ambassador to Washington, Sherry Rehman, the hearing Termed an "ill-Advised move" Which be told "Detrimental" to building trust between Pakistan and the United States.The ambassador's protest did not deter Rohrabacher. On Feb the eighteenth, only 10 days after the Controversial hearing, he, Along with two other members of the U.S. Congress, moved a resolution in the House of Representatives for the Baloch people Demanding Independence.Moreover, on March twenty-seventh, Rohrabacher Addressed a press conference at Washington's National Press Club to Reaffirm his support for a free Balochistan."Mr Rohrabacher is a hero for the Baloch nation," says Akram Baloch, a leader of the Baloch diaspora and a US national who lives in Philadelphia.Baloch, who personally attended the hearing and the press conference, says the developments in the United States have proved that Balochistan is an "international dispute" and Pakistan should be held accountable for its actions against the Baloch."We appreciate the American legislators who stood for the rights of the Baloch people and we request them to play their role in ending the gross human rights violations in Balochistan and in granting us the right to self-determination," says Baloch who had formerly contested elections in his native Kharan district in Balochistan.The impression that the Balochistan issue is only raised by some anti-Pakistan members of the US Congress is not correct. The US government has also frequently voiced concerns on the state of affairs in Balochistan.For instance, on Oct the thirtieth, two thousand and twelve, the United States Expressed "deep Concern" over the violence in the region in Geneva at the United Nations' Human Rights Council. Washington blamed Pakistani security forces for carrying out "" kill-and-dump "operations [in Balochistan] that target numerous civil society actors, including Baloch activists and their family members, as well as journalists, activists and student leaders."On Jan thirteenth, 2 012, Victoria Nuland, the Spokeswoman for the State Department, said the United States Was " Deeply Concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan ". She stated that the US took the allegations of human rights violations very seriously and said America had "discussed these issues with the Pakistani officials", urging them to "really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes this issue forward".Moreover, on Nov 15, 2011, Mark C. Toner, spokesman at the State Department Deputy, NetworkPage Had Stated That Had the U.S. government " Broader concerns about the Situation there [in Balochistan] and the freehostgator of the press ... and When do we have those concerns, we raise them with the Government of Pakistan. "Furthemore, the State Department in its 2011th Had Human Rights Report Targeted Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan where referred to "Nationalist, political and intellectual leaders Remained targets of attacks."All of the above statements reflect that the Obama administration is displeased with Islamabad's policy in Balochistan."We have great respect for both political parties in the US," says former Senator Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party."Whichever candidate wins the elections, the impact will be profound for the region," he says."We do hope that the new US administration will rethink its closed-door policy towards the marginalised Baloch people - and embrace democracy-defenders, political activists, journalists and students who are being ruthlessly eliminated over their political opinions," says the former senator.He says Balochistan has a conducive environment for the development of democracy due to what he calls a centuries-old progressive political process."Due to a collision of policies and interests with Islamabad, moderate Baloch political forces and society have been systemically persecuted and discriminated against. Despite high poverty, low literacy and appalling socio-economic conditions, religious fundamentalism has failed to take roots in Baloch society, "says the former legislator.Some members of the Baloch diaspora believe that the United States should do more to address the Balochistan conflict. They also fear that more cooperation between Pakistan and the United States would undermine Baloch interests.Miran Gichki, a young Baloch scholar who graduated from the University of Arkansas and now lives in California, says a Republican president is more likely to work closely with Pakistan."My concern is about Pakistan getting more military assistance from the United States which will be used against Baloch dissidents," he says."I am also worried that more Baloch would be targeted if United States transfers drone technology to Pakistan."Regardless of who comes to power in Washington, it would not be easy for the next US president to ignore Balochistan while dealing with Pakistan. Balochistan remains critical in the debate pertaining to Taliban sanctuaries, growing religious radicalisation and issues of democracy and human rights. However, the challenge here is that one American approach to address the unrest in Balochistan is not going to be simultaneously acceptable to both Islamabad and Baloch nationalists. Nonetheless, the Baloch see brighter prospects for them from the United States irrespective of the outcome of the presidential elections.
KARACHI, Nov 10: Police found bullet-riddled and tortured bodies of four young men in Pak Colony on Saturday believed to be members of one of several criminal gangs operating in Lyari and victims of ongoing bloody warfare among rival groups.Police said the four appeared to be in their late 20s and early 30s and wearing shalwar-kameez found shot dead at midnight in Rexer Lines within the remit of the Pak Colony police station neighbouring Lyari.
The bodies were later shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi."The bodies have been identified as those of Munawwar Baloch alias Pathan, Shahid Baloch alias KK, Babar and Qadir. They lived in Pak Colony and had a history of crime, "said Inspector Abdul Wahid Awan, the SHO Pak Colony police station."Initial findings suggest all of them left home after sunset on Friday evening after receiving phone calls. The victims were hit by multiple bullets and at least two bodies also carried torture marks, "he said.Majority of residents of the area were unaware of the bloody episode that took place in the dark of the night but as soon it became known early in the morning on Saturday all commercial activities and daily life came to a halt in the densely-populated neighbourhood. Shops remained closed and transport stayed off the roads till evening.The investigators found no other motive for the murders but criminal gangs' bloody warfare going on for almost a decade in Lyari and its adjoining old city areas.Though unaware of the exact reasons that led to killings of the four youngsters, they said the victims themselves were not known for good reasons. "They were associated with a criminal gang that dealt in drugs, kidnapping and arms," said SP Akram Abro of Site Town."Munawwar was brother of Anwar alias Kojack, ringleader of a gang. The murders appeared to be a result of inter-gang rivalry.At this moment, investigations are at very early stage but initial findings suggest they were called to resolve a lingering dispute but somehow the meeting turned ugly and ended up in their deaths,
In order to manage the country's western borders and reduce illicit traffic, the law-enforcement agencies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan will soon receive international aid.To this end, the UK government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) signed a three-year agreement on Friday, under which the UK government will contribute £ 3.6 million (approximately Rs548 million) to support the UNODC's Border Management Programme in Pakistan.
The agreement was signed by the UNODC Country Representative Jeremy Douglas and the UK Deputy High Commissioner Alison Blake at the UNODC office in Islamabad. Additional Inspector General of KP Police Khalid Masood also attended the ceremony.The programme will provide operational equipment such as scanners and vehicles to the police, and also provide training to officials of the police and other law-enforcement agencies, said Douglas. He said the border provinces are challenged by transnational crime and a number of trafficking and instability issues, adding that law-enforcement personnel are often in need of training and equipment to perform day-to-day work.Douglas said the KP government is setting up a new training academy for police at Nowshera and the UNODC wants to contribute. "They have a new training academy coming up, so we want to offer trainers, computer-based training labs and equipment for the training facility," he said. The training modules have been translated in local languages, which will help officers being recruited from local communities who have only received basic training.Blake said the programme will help improve border management capacity between Afghanistan and Pakistan. "It will strengthen Pakistan's ability to control its borders, both to stop illicit flows such as drugs that blight the region, but also to facilitate legitimate trade," she said. The programme will also build the capacity of Pakistani institutions and foster international cooperation, she added."Both countries face an immense challenge in tackling transnational organised crime, which respect no boundaries and illicit trade flows," Blake said. "Trade in narcotics and drug precursors devastates lives here and in Afghanistan and also on the streets of the UK and other countries around the world," she added.She said the illicit drugs trade is a major source of funding and is also used by extremist and insurgent groups to make explosives.Douglas agreed that Pakistan's western border areas are impacted by drug trafficking. "What we are aiming to do is also increase a lot of knowledge in the police on drug issues and increase the capacity of all the law enforcement agencies working there to deal with drugs and organised crime issues," he added.Masood said fighting militants has taken its toll on the KP police force. Just in the past three months, the KP Police lost three superintendents of police in militant attacks, "Masood said. "In the war-like situation we have, more than 500 police officers have been martyred."
govt of consequences
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday warned the Balochistan government of adverse consequences in case a decision by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), an international arbitration forum, went against it in the Reko Diq mining lease awards case.
Reko Diq case: SC warns Balochistan govt of consequencesA three-judge bench - headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry - directed Balochistan's Advocate General Amanullah Kanrani to provide records of the case to all the parties over a plea moved by Maulana Abdul Haq Baloch, one of the petitioners.During the proceedings, the bench observed that an irresponsible attitude was adopted towards the pending issue which could result in adverse consequences.Baloch's attorney Raza Kazim contended that it was a significant case over which a decision had been reserved by the ICSID. If the decision by the international arbitrator restricted the provincial government from awarding the licence to a company other than the respondent Tethyan Copper Company Australia (TCCA), it would create complications, he added.Justice Chaudhry observed that they were impartial and those responsible would have to face the consequences if an adverse ruling was given at the international arbitration.Justice Gulzar Ahmed, another judge on the bench, observed that they would have to take into consideration the status of TCCA, whether it could invoke international arbitration or not.The chief justice questioned how the TCCA could make its claims considering it had sold its shares. He also said that Pakistan was a sovereign country that was capable of defending its law. Raza Kazim said the court had issued notices to the TCCA, but it did not bother to respond.Justice Chaudhry observed that the issue could not be taken up by the Pakistan government as it was not a party to the case. Kazim replied that the government should have approached the apex court over the investment.The ICSID had reserved its judgment on November 6 over the issue between the Balochistan government and the TCC. The proceedings were held in London.The ICSID tribunal, comprising Dr Klaus Sachs, Dr Stanimir Alexandrov and Lord Hoffman had concluded its hearing. The TCC had invoked the jurisdiction of the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) and ICSID against the prospective Reko Diq minerals licence. The TCC was formed to explore gold and copper at the Reko Diq mines. The TCC was also a part of the parties of the alliance agreement with the BHP Minerals International Exploration Inc.Downplays Human Rights Violations
Members of civil society in Pakistan have accused Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar of downplaying the serious human rights violations currently taking place in Balochistan during her presentation to the UN Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan on 30 October 2012.Civil society representatives in Pakistan have accused Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her delegation of trying to downplay the grave human rights situation in Balochistan during her presentation on October 30 [2012] to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan.
Sharing their critique of Pakistan's submissions to UN in Geneva before the Working Group of Human Rights Council, they said people continue to protest against the many people missing in Balochistan while arrests and human rights abuses continue."The Supreme Court has held military and the Frontier Corps answerable for extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances. Since July 2010, more than 400 bodies of missing persons have been found in Balochistan, "they said.Nationalist groups claim that more than 100 children are being illegally detained by the military. Cabinet members from the province all live in Islamabad and visit the province only on rare occasions, they said.The government has constituted two commissions to investigate the causes behind the extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. One of the commissions asked to complete its report within three months has still not been presented it, they claimed."The other commission has also taken well over a year but failed to present its conclusions," they said."The report presented by Pakistan was disappointing. Member states have recommended that military operations should be halted in Balochistan and government should ensure that those responsible for torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances are prosecuted, "they said."The impunity offered to the offenders should be withdrawn immediately. Amongst other recommendations was that adequate resources must be provided to the National Commission on Human Rights to enable it to perform its duties, "they added.The press conference was attended by IA Rehman from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mohammad Zubair from South Asia Partnership (SAP-PK), Fauzia Viqar from Shirkat Gah, Nasreen Zehra from Aurat Foundation, Sajjad Cheema from SPARC and Peter Jacob from National Commission for Justice and Peace.- News .
London: We have gathered here today to pay our deepest respects to Baloch martyrs of liberation and those who are languishing in the prisons of occupying states of Pakistan and Iran. Their sacrifices are continuation of the legacy of Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch, who was martyred while defending Balochistan on 13 November 1839.
Thousands of Baloch have continued the legacy of Mehrab Khan and his comrades by fighting against the occupiers. The same legacy has been followed by, Bibi Mahtab, Doctor Khalid, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Ahmad Khan Marri over 80 years, Nawab Akbar Bugti and 14 years old Majeed Zehri Baloch, Waheed Baloch and thousands of other Baloch sons and daughters. They all have courageously been defending our homeland and our sacrifices will continue until liberation of our motherland.
Dear friends!
We have come a long way and have proved in the course of our liberation struggle that our people are secular and only demand their inherent right to freedom. We have stood upright for decades and have constantly struggled for the freedom of our land and to get rid of the yoke of foreign invaders.
Our rightful destination has unnecessarily been very long and extremely painful. Countless of our men and women have lost their precious lives at the hands of occupying states of Pakistan and Iran.
Our country has been exploited and its sanctity has been violated with the worst criminal acts like their so called Islamic bomb and other illegal activities. Their nuclear tests in our land is a permanent terrible burden. Our people have to bear the adverse effects of these nuclear tests for many generations to come.
Today we are witnessing more occupying military garrisons, personnel and security forces per population in Balochistan than any other parts of the world. These mercenary jihadist armies, however, do not waste their time idle in Balochistan. Just in the last few years thousands of Baloch students, teachers, journalists, lawyers, writers, poets, singers, farmers, labourers, political and religious leaders and many others have been forcefully disappeared and the mutilated bodies of about five hundred of them have been found from all over Pakistani occupied Balochistan.
And Yet, the Baloch national liberation movement is continuously gaining momentum and widespread support of people from all walks of life. The Baloch people have never stopped longing for their most valued natural right to freedom. The desire to be free from illegal occupation is embedded in the consciousness of every sane, informed and fair-minded person.
Despite all these difficulties, Baloch have risen up and are adamant to regain their freedom. Our liberation movement has clear objectives and direction. Our nation is ready to regain its sovereignty, and our progressive educated youth are well capable of establishing one of the most democratic, stable and prosperous nations in the region.
We know for sure that our freedom and independence will not just contribute positively to the well-being of the Baloch nation but it will also certainly be beneficial to the whole region and even the world at large.
We must be clear in our vision. We should not be hesitant and send mix signals to the occupying state because such signals will harm our cause and benefit the oppressors. We must at this crucial phase of our struggle be honest with our nation and avoid creating confusion about the freedom movement.
Pinning false hopes in the judiciary of occupying state is tantamount to denying the significance of several years of enormous sacrifices and struggle of the Baloch people. The solution of our grave problem is not in Pakistani pseudo parliaments and other artificial institutions of the occupying state. Expressing confidence in Pakistani institutions will merely prolong our bondage.
The world is getting to know more and more about oppressed people including the Baloch nation and our liberation struggle day by day. Our people have succeeded in convincing the world that Pakistan is a rogue state and a hot bed for the religious extremists. The international community knows that Pakistan is not only a danger to the regional peace and stability but it is also a threat to the civilised world.
Our appeal to the International democratic and civilised powers is to support the peace loving people of Balochistan – support our freedom struggle and help us to put an end to the menace created by Pakistan and to make this world a better place for our generations to come.
söndag 18 november 2012
News .
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