Rt. Hon Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH
Subject: Human rights violations in Balochistan by the Pakistani rulers
Dear Rt Hon Jack Straw,
On behalf of the Balochistan Action Committee (UK), we would like to draw your attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan (Pakistani) where arrests, kidnappings and illegal detention of Baloch students, political workers and leaders by the Pakistani police and army are surpassing all limits. Following are but a few random instances of the brutal treatment meted out on political activists and even ordinary citizens by the military authorities:
Abdul Nabi Bungulzai, a political activist, was arrested in February 2001 along with 11 others. He has been inhumanly tortured and is still being kept in detention without trial. He is not allowed any visitors, not even the closest family members.
Ali Asghar Bangulzai, another activist, was kidnapped on 18th October, 2001 by the secret agencies. His whereabouts are still unknown.
Hafiz Saeed Ur Rehman Bangulzai’s whereabouts are unknown after his arrest in 2002.
Gwahram Baloch, an ordinary member of public, was abducted by the army intelligence personnel on 8th August, 2004. He is still missing.
On 25th March, 2005 students and political activists Dr. Imdad Baloch,
chairman of Baloch Students Organization (BSO), Dr. Allah Nazar, former
Chairman of BSO, Dr. Yousuf, Press Secretary, Ghulam Rasool,
a member of the Central Committee of BSO, Dr. Naseem, an ex-member of the Central Committee, were detained along with AIi Nawaz and Akhtar Nadeem unlawfully and taken to secret locations. They were kept in detention for five months and severely tortured.
In August 2005 Majid Samad and fourteen other members of BSO were arrested in in the town of Turbat. They were mercilessly tortured by the army intelligence agencies and are still languishing under illegal detention.
On 22nd September 2005, Abid Saleh, the younger brother of the afore-mentioned Gwahram Baloch, was also kidnapped by the operatives of the army agencies. He is still missing.
- On 15th November 2005, Dr Hanif Sharif, a leading poet and writer and medical practitioner was taken away by the army units and his whereabouts are to this day unknown to his family and friends.
- On 23rd November 2005, Aslam Gurgnadi, Khuda Bux Bizanjo and Master Saeed were forcefully taken away from the Balochistan High Court building by the army units despite the fact the court had earlier ordered their release after two years’ of illegal detention. When their lawyer dared to protest he was also arrested and put behind the bars.
- In March this year the army targeted Akbar Bugti, President of the Jamhoori Watan (Democratic Motherland) Party, by launching an operation in his home town of Dera Bugti using helicopter gun ships. Mr. Bugti escaped narrowly but 70 unarmed Baloch including women and children were killed in this wanton operation.
- Only as recently as last October agents of the Pakistani army intelligence fired rockets and other lethal ammunition on the residence of Ataullah Mengal, the chief patron of the Balochistan National Party and a former Chief Minister in Wadd in south central Balochistan. His residence in fact the entire town of Wadd is under siege surrounded by hundreds of Para-military forces.
The above are some of the few cases which were highlighted by the Pakistani and international media but there are countless others which are yet to be disclosed. The refusal to release the Baloch detainees is a typical example of an arrogant mindset of an occupying army. Apart from the arbitrary detentions and persecutions the military rulers have deployed thousands of troops in the entire length and breadth of Balochistan. The senior officers commanding these troops have been given a free hand not only to detain and torture but also to shoot and kill. Hence the reign of terror has been let loose in Balochistan. Now the question arises whether the Pakistani rulers are justified to embark upon such a dangerous course of action. After the Pakistani rulers forcibly annexed Balochistan in 1948 and consolidated their rule, the Baloch leadership accepted the new reality. They joined the Pakistani mainstream parties. However, they never ceased demanding a federal and democratic system and complete autonomy not only for Balochistan but for all the nationalities in Pakistan. The Baloch leaders have always been at the forefront of the democratic struggle opposing the intervention of the military in the body politic of Pakistan. The army establishment has, therefore, never forgiven them. It wants to continuously punish them and the people of Balochistan for following and supporting these leaders.
The latest wave of illegal arrests, kidnappings, detentions and torture of the Baloch people by the Pakistani rulers is part of a policy to deny the Baloch people their lawful rights and crush any individual or party who dare speak out against injustice. They want to destabilize and destroy the Baloch social and political fabric through sinister machinations such as:
- Fomenting inter- and intra-tribal conflicts among the tribes masterminded by the Inter-Services Intelligence (agency) of the army. These conflicts mostly result in bloodshed and carnage under the watchful eyes of the authorities who pretend to be either neutral or helpless.
- Protecting and patronizing the anti-social and criminal elements in Balochistan. This is being done by recruiting antisocial elements and convicted criminals who are involved in the international drug trafficking business run by the Pakistani Army and Navy. The antisocial elements and hired drug traffickers have been armed to the teeth and enjoy the total support of the secret agencies. Small wonder they act as warlords in their areas. These criminal elements are also helped to get "elected" in the so-called general and local elections and hold political office. They are portrayed as the representatives of the Baloch nation. These sinister actions of the army rulers are creating social anarchy and upheavals in the Baloch society.
- Providing active patronage and funding to the religious institutions. The religious and fundamentalist ideology of the Pakistani army and State is being artificially imposed on a basically secular Baloch society.
The above mentioned sinister acts by the Pakistani State institutions are classical examples of a colonial mindset. Construction of army cantonments and deployment of thousands of paramilitary forces throughout Balochistan are presenting a picture of an occupied country rather than a province of Pakistan. This situation, no doubt, is creating an overwhelming sense of insecurity among the Baloch people. These acts of terror and humiliation, and a continuum of the state terrorism will not only increase the ever present tension and hatred between the Baloch people and the Pakistani police state, but it will lead to a point where a bloody confrontation between the Baloch and the Pakistani state seems inevitable resulting in the loss of life and property of the defenseless people of Balochistan. It should be noted here that Pakistani authorities have arrogantly shown to ignore the just demands of the Baloch people since the occupation of their land in 1948. Furthermore, the Pakistani military rulers are continuously and contemptuously ignoring appeals and presentations by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International and other human right groups for the release of illegal detainees.
Unfortunately the Pakistani army enjoys the patronage of the Western governments and is totally dependant on their support for the perpetuation of its illegal occupation of power and for terrorizing and suppressing the voice of smaller nationalities in Pakistan. Immediate intervention by western powers in general and by the British government in particular can save not only a lot of Baloch lives but it can also stop the present situation developing into genocide of the defenseless people of Balochistan. The Pakistani army is not only capable of but takes exceptional pride in genocide. The former East Pakistan is a prime example.
The Balochistan Action Committee (UK) appeals to the Commonwealth Secretary-General to intervene with the Pakistani military rulers to stop human rights violations and other acts of social subversions in Balochistan.
As British citizens, having historical and cultural links and sentimental bondages with our brethrens in Balochistan, we think ourselves justified in demanding that British Government may kindly take the long standing issue of Baloch people’s plight in international forums like United Nations, EU and Common Wealth. The people of Balochistan will be highly obliged for this favorable gesture. The Balochistan Action Committee (UK) highly appreciates your kind immediate attention and positive intervention in this matter.
Thanking you in anticipation,
M.A Baloch
On behalf of Balochistan Action Committee (UK)
Balochistan Action Committee (UK) Dated: 1st December 2005
e-mail:balochactions@yahoo.co.uk
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