By Shehmir Gorgej
NEW YORK: A leading Baluch human rights activist in North America has condemned Pakistan for not asking the United Nations to include the killing of a former governor and chief minister of Baluchistan in an investigation of military-inspired killings in Pakistan.
In a letter that was sent to UN Secretary General's Ban Ki-moon office moments after Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi got an agreement signed to have the U.N. investigate the killing of Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007, the president of the Baloch Society of North America, Dr. Wahid Baloch, asked the U.N. to include the assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in the investigations.
A copy of the letter was also sent to U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Baloch deplored double standards in world politics and the tendency of the U.N. not to move until hundreds of thousands of bodies are piled up in armed conflicts.
He said the color of Baluch blood is also red.
Following is the full text of Dr. Baloch's letter to Ban ki-moon.
Hon'ble Secretary General:
I would like to congratulate your office on agreeing to establish an independent commission to investigate the killing of twice-premier of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto.
This inquiry is a must if the role of Pakistan army and the country's dreaded secret services is to be exposed before the eyes of the world.
I understand the objectives of the commission are to identify the culprits, perpetrators, organizers and financiers of the assassination that took place in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, headquarters of Pakistan army.
I am also pleased to note you will appoint "well-respected, eminent people" to the independent commission.
Just before her death, Benazir Bhutto had blamed the powerful chief of the Intelligence Bureau Brigadier Ijaz Shah, widely suspected of having a hand in the killing of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, of being involved in plots to have her physically annihilated.
It's a shame Brigadier Shah is still free though slain Bhutto's spouse Asif Ali Zardari, known worldwide as Mr. Ten Percent, is the most powerful civilian in Pakistan today.
However, I am extremely saddened to note your office has not taken any cognizance of the assassination of 81-year-old Baluch leader, former governor and chief minister of Baluchistan Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Bugti was killed extrajudicial August 26, 2006 in the army operation in Baluchistan.
This speaks of double standards at the U.N. and I must draw your attention to the fact that color of Baluch blood is also red.
Bugti's only fault was that he demanded that resources of Baluchistan belong to the Baluch people.
I do hope you know the blood-checkered history of Baluchistan, a Texas-sized region divided among Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. As they lack statehood, the Baluch are treated like third rate citizens in both Iran and Pakistan.
The Iranian part of Baluchistan was occupied by Iran in 1928 and 20 years later, Pakistan annexed the remaining part of Baluchistan at the point of gun. Baluchistan was an independent state for more than seven months after the British left India divided in August 1947, but was annexed by Pakistan in March 1948.
The Baluch are today struggling for their basic human rights in the occupied territories of Pakistan and Iran.
Baluch lands have been turned into testing grounds for weapons of mass destruction, contrary to their national will.
Just because our land is under occupation, does it mean the occupiers can kill the Baluch at will and the international community will remain a silent spectator?
It is regrettable that Pakistan has not requested your office to investigate the killing of Nawab Bugti, but I would like to request you to insist that your office will also like to investigate the assassination of the popular Baluch leader who won all elections throughout his political career.
I do hope your office knows about the five military operations that were carried out by the Pakistan army in Occupied Baluchistan. Nawab Bugti was a victim in the fifth army operation, which is still ongoing. Likewise in Iran, Baluch are being publicly hanged on flimsy and trumped up charges.
Will the world community wake up when hundreds of thousands of bodies will be piled up in Quetta, Khuzdar and Zahidan? Is there no way your honor can come to the rescue of the Baluch people before that bloodshed happens?
As I make this request to include the killing of Nawab Bugti in the scope of your honor's investigations, I condemn the Pakistani authorities for not making a similar demand on behalf of the Baluch people.
In any case, the Baluch people don't expect any justice from Pakistan.
I also like to bring to your honor's notice the De Jure Ruler of Baluchistan, the Khan of Kalat Mir Suleiman Daud Ahmedzai, under mandate of the overwhelming people of Baluchistan, is knocking at the doors of the International Court of Justice at the Hague. I hope the U.N. will facilitate the process for the Baluch people to get justice at world fora." |
