January Report: Pakistan continues atrocities in Occupied-Balochistan

Baloch National Movement Central Information Secretary Dil Murad Baloch has said that the year 2020 had begun with the state atrocities. The security forces of Pakistan carried out more than 30 military operations and raids across Balochistan in the month of January and 67 persons were arrested and enforced disappeared during these operations. Approximately more than 50 houses were looted and 30 houses were burnt down.

Thirty one persons were killed in the month of January; whereas the cause of 23 persons’ death remained undetermined. The other 8 Baloch were killed by the security forces of Pakistan. Essa Shah Zaman Bugti who was previously abducted by security forces on 14th January, was killed in a fake encounter by the military. Similarly, another person was killed in a fake encounter by Levies force. One person, a resident of Sodd, Jahoo district Awaran was killed by the state sponsored death squad. And five others laid their lives in fighting against the state security forces.

Forty three persons were released from Pakistan secret cells in the month of January. Among them, two had been forcibly disappeared since 2013, two since 2014, one since 2015, six since 2016, ten since 2017, twelve since 2018 and ten since 2019 by the security forces of Pakistan.

Dil Murad Baloch stated that since the last two decades the atrocities of Pakistan had been increasing with every passing year. This reveals the intentions of Pakistan for carrying out the genocide of Baloch nation. Not a single place in Balochistan is spared from the atrocities of the Pakistan. From every nok and corner of Balochistan people had not only been abducted but also houses were set on fire. Spy agencies of Pakistan and the army had been abducting people, looting the houses and livestock on a daily basis. The proxy terrorist organizations and death squads of the state turned Balochistan into a hell for Baloch. Security forces pick up the young children in front of their parents who only remain as symbol of helplessness. Some of these relatives could be seen in the protests and hunger strike camps for the recovery of their loved ones for years. And rarely are anyones loved one get released.

He said, “this is crystal clear that the atrocities of Pakistan in Balochistan have taken the shape of a humanitarian crisis. The victims’ families are going through an unbearable situation and the situation is even getting worse. Hence for the last several months, it can be clearly perceived that a parliamentarian party has been using the problem of missing persons as a political mean of securing political benefits from the army and has thus been directly involved in bargaining with the state; though the problem of enforced disappearance of the people by the army and spy agencies are linked with the slavery of the people.

The state lacks all human and international values as well as is rebellious to its own constitution. That is why for the last two decades thousands of Baloch are illegally and for indefinite periods of time in the torture cells of security forces of Pakistan. But the state lacks the obligation to its own constitution and courts and is unable to produce a single person among these thousands of forcibly disappeared persons before its own court. This scenario puts thousands of Baloch in the state of decay and death. But they are fully aware of one fact that their children are bearing these illegal detentions for the great cause. There is not a single case where the family members of the missing persons bowed before the state and made a compromise for the release of their loved one. But unfortunately, a parliamentarian political party has been exploiting this humanitarian crisis and using it brazenly for its political game. It is already clear that it secure two to four seats in parliament secretly dealing with the army, which became clearer by supporting the Army Act; and as a result of this only some people were released.”

Dil Murad Baloch added, “We are going through a historical transition; where history will on one side remember the atrocities of the state; on the other side the submission of the so-called political party before the enemy will never be forgotten. The humanitarian crisis of the enforced disappearance and playing with the emotions of the victims’ families through bargaining with the enemy forces is tantamount to being an equal partner of Pakistan in its war crimes. In one hand a few missing persons are being released from torture cells and being handed over to this party in order to cover the war crimes of Pakistan army; on the other hand a greater number of people are being enforced disappeared and the number of the missing persons is increasing enormously.”

Dil Murad Baloch questioned, “a few people among thousands of missing persons are being released from the torture cells of army, and they are being handed over to the central and local level of leaders of this political party; they are equally answerable along with state that where had been these missing person for years? For what crime they were detained? And what sort of ordeals had they suffered? Those political parties surely know about the fate of thousands of missing persons and what sort of deal they have made or will make with the state regarding the missing persons? Sooner or later the Baloch nation and the history will hold them accountable for this”

He added, “The illegal abduction of the people is a big crime. No law of the world, not even the constitution of Pakistan permits it, but this inhuman act is being fully exercised in Balochistan. This is a clear war crime. And Pakistan would have been held accountable for this war crime, but Pakistan has been exonerated at the expense of the emotions and helplessness of the people. As history will punish Pakistan, characters like those of the parliamentarian groups will also never be free from history's penalty.”