Violence against Baloch students in Islamabad is an expression of colonial psychology. BNM

In a statement, the spokesperson of the Baloch National Movement condemned the violence against Baloch students in Islamabad and said that the violence against students was an expression of colonial psychology as the Baloch struggle has defeated Pakistani aggression in every field with sacrifice and high spirits. Pakistan had tried all the tactics of cruelty and brutality but Pakistan had not been able to defeat the Baloch national spirit.

The spokesperson said that the ongoing protest in Islamabad was for the recovery of Hafeez Baloch who was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army from Khuzdar and forcibly disappeared. There are eyewitnesses of the incident that he was taken into custody by an army officer named Major Murtaza. Despite this, keeping Hafeez Baloch missing continuously is an attempt to repeat the example of Major Naveed who kidnapped a Baloch named Hafeezullah from Dalbandin and got a ransom of seven million rupees. Despite the evidence, Hafeezullah Baloch was killed in custody, and Major Naveed was never brought to justice. Similarly, Captain Hammad, who was directly involved in the sexual abuse of Dr Shazia Khalid in Dera Bugti, was also exempted as atrocities against Baloch are part of state policy.

He said that this was not the first incident of violence against Baloch students in Islamabad or Punjab. There have been numerous attempts by local student organizations and intelligence agencies to keep the Baloch under constant pressure with police violence. There, Shaheed Shahdad and Shaheed Major Noora were similarly targeted and they struggled for Baloch zeal and “revenge” by making a place in the armed organizations of national liberation. Recently, once again, the intelligence agencies have inflicted mental torture on Baloch students by “profiling” in several educational institutions in Punjab. When they set up a protest camp for the recovery of their colleague Hafeez Baloch, first their camp tent was demolished and later they were subjected to indiscriminate force which resulted in severe injuries to many students.

The spokesperson said that the violence against Baloch students in Punjab and the silence of the media and majority people there had proven that the general public agrees with the state’s narrative of violence against the Baloch nation. Some members of civil society and some journalists have condemned the violence against Baloch students in accordance with their conscience.

He said that there were restrictions on the colonial education system which was prevalent in Balochistan. Educational institutions had been turned into military camps. Balochistan University resembles a military cantonment more than one educational institution. There, students were protesting for the recovery of their colleagues Safiullah and Sohail Baloch.

The central spokesperson of Baloch National Movement said that treatment that has been meted out to the Baloch for seven decades is a practical manifestation of the original definition of “ruler and king” or “slave and master”. The baton charge on a peaceful student protest in Islamabad and the injuries of several students is proof that not only are the doors of education closed for the Baloch but they are not allowed to raise their voice on any legitimate demand.