Martyrs of Murgaab: Their sacrifices for the Nation are immortal in history
By: I.Baloch
A True Legend comes but only once in centuries. A Legend means; one who makes history who do good for others who render sacrifices for their motherland or they make significant unique positive change that benefits the entire world. A legend fights against injustice and slavery; creating awareness around the world about their nation and their language. Legends such as Baghat Singh, Chakar e Azam, Sikandar e Azam, Nawab Akhbar Khan Bugti, Balach Marri and many others. While they embraced martyrdom and no longer physically alive in the world, their footprints remain a guiding path for generations to come. Their legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of every man and woman bravely standing against oppression and tyranny today. They will live on until and beyond judgement day; because they defined our history, they sacrificed everything for their noble goals, even sacrificed their lives for the sake of humanity.
On 9th April 2015 we commemorate the 6th Martyrdom anniversary of three legends. We knew them as martyr Ghulam Mohmmad, martyr Sher Mohmmad and martyr Lala Munir. Their dead bodies were dumped in Murgap area of Kech near Turbat. It’s painful to accept the unfortunate reality that these three legends are no longer with us. Ghulam Mohmmad was the Chairman of Baloch National Movement, Lala Munir was a General Secretary of Baloch National Movement and Sher Mohmmad Baloch was a voice chairman of Baloch Republican Party.
All Three of them were abducted 3rd April 2009 from their lawyer’s office while they had just returned from a court hearing and after six days their bodies were found dumped on 9th April 2009. Previously in December, 2006, Ghulam Mohmmad and Sher Mohmmad were also abducted from Lyari in Karachi.
That day on 3rd December 2006 I visited to my friend in the area. At the time I was not much interested about Baloch cause, but was aware of the situation in occupied Balochistan. I knew of the freedom struggle, but was not personally involved at that time. That day was a rainy day; I recall we were passing by that area where they were abducted. The whole road was full of the Police high officers, and we at that time didn’t know what happened. I saw police officers engaged in trying to drive off groups of people who raised slogans against them. I told my friend I don’t want get involved in any trouble, and we decided to leave the area to go and talk elsewhere.
As it was still raining outside so we decided to go to a café, also I love tea in rainy weather. I asked him what happened in your area and he told me the Police arrested two well-known Baloch leaders. Then I asked the names of those arrested. He mentioned Ghulam Mohmmad and Sher Mohmmad, who at that time both of them were relatively unknown to common people. We talked about them for a while, then went to my home and later I went to Balochistan. I heard after Ghulam Mohmmad and Sher Mohmmad were arrested they were brought before court on unsubstantiated charges of terrorism.
On 19th September 2007 they were handed over to custody of the police and soon afterwards they were released on bail. I still did not know much about them, even I didn’t asked anyone about them. However, on 9th April 2009 I was in my cousin’s village, visiting with my cousin. I stayed at his village for an evening and the next day when I was ready to return home, I came to the bus stop and everything was shut down; it was a strike! Strikes are not an uncommon thing in Balochistan; for the Baloch strike is a very familiar word. At first I didn’t know the reason of this strike but I was annoyed by the strikers because I wanted to go home.
There was a complete shutter down which mean the buses would not move, not even local buses. Next to me, a few people sat at backside of parked bus; one of them stood up quickly. I noticed that person saw one bike driving on this strike day. The person brandished a big stick and when bike reached near the person, he raised his stick as though preparing to hit them. But at the last moment he realized the man on the bike was a police officer and refrained from swinging at him. The boy became very worried when he realised the bike rider was a police officer. I too was frightened, and when the officer looked at me, I smiled at him.
I decide to a walk a little further hoping that maybe ahead I would find a bus or some ride to convince. After walking for three hours I didn’t find any transportation, and then I decided that I must learn about the three of these persons whose influence has brought the entire region to a standstill. I was determined to know who these legends were. Eventually I did find transportation and that night I reached my home very late. When I arrived home, my family asked me why I came so late. I was exhausted at the time and couldn’t tell them all the story; so I summarised my evening simply by telling them of my difficulty acquiring transportation.
The next morning I started my mission to learn about who Ghulam Mohhmad, Sher Mohhmad, and Lala Muneer were. I searched of them. Who are they? I read the books, I read the articles, I asked my friends, and even I asked my father about them. When I came to realise and understand them; I felt ashmed that I didn’t know about them before. How could I not know about those who sacrificed their lives for me and my children’s future? I was ashamed that how could I not know about the legends who scarified their lives for the nation, for their freedom, and for their motherland.
All three of them belonged to middle class families and were educated people. My father knew more about them then I did. We had many long discussions about them. My Father was very inspired by Ghulam Mohmmad. Among many people my father was inspired by three people two of whom are martyrs now – Ghulam Mohammad Baloch and Professor Saba Dashtyari – the third person who inspired my father is Zahid Kurd. My father personally participated in many protests with them. He told me about Zahid Kurd’s speeches and even today I appreciate his speeches.
My father told me he felt great sorrow about the loss of Ghulam Mohmmad. Whenever he mention name of Ghulam, Lala Munir, Sher Mohmmad, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Balach Marri, and Saba Dashtyar, I feel the sadness and pain in his voice. He always tells me that his kind of leaders are unique among the Baloch Nation; and I wished they were among us. He said the Baloch Nation misses and needs them. He also said to me that brave men who cannot live with us physically because they embraced martyrdom, must always remain in our thoughts and lives. We must learn what they said and did, and follow their example in our lives; so these brave martyrs may live on through our thoughts and actions. I found my father’s lessons very inspiring and from that day forward I have become dedicated to playing a role in the struggle.
The more I studied and researched, I came to wonder why the Pakistani secret agencies abducted, killed, and dumped Ghulam Mohmmad, Sher Mohmmad, and Lala Munir. These three leaders were peaceful activists, and the State Security Forces had nothing to fear from non-violent unarmed political figures. Some believed they were killed because of their role in foiling Pakistan’s efforts to portray the Baloch freedom fighters as terrorists.
A short time prior to their abduction and subsequent killing; these Baloch leaders had worked to help free abducted UN worker John Solecki. The UN worker was abducted by an alleged Baloch militant group and was being held hostage. Ghulam Mohhmad had worked directly with regional and international associates to urge the alleged Baloch freedom fighters to release John Solecki. The Pakistanis had hoped the Baloch would kill John Solecki and justify their genocidal crusade against the Baloch nation. After Pakistan’s plot to secure additional international funding and approval to fight the Baloch by portraying them as terrorists had failed; and only days after John Solecki was released, the state forces dumped the decomposed remains of Ghulam Mohhmad, Sher Mohhmad and Lala Munir at Murghaap, near Turbat and Shaadi River.
The agencies refused to concede to any negotiations and wished for Baloch freedom fighters to kill the hostage. They forgot Baloch are fighting for freedom and are not terrorists who kill people for money or religion. Baloch are struggling and fighting in the hottest weather and coldest weather, they eat, live, and carry on daily life in the mountains. If world were to accept Pakistan’s definition of a terrorist (as applied to Baloch), then they would term every freedom loving nation who ever defended their homeland as a terrorist.
The Baloch nation is demanding their freedom from the foreign terrorists who came from other lands and occupied Balochistan. From the Baloch perspective these invaders are committing terrorist acts. Those who defend the Baloch homeland are the Sarmachar Freedom Fighters, they fight for a free secular nation and are in complete opposition to organisations such as the Taliban, Al-Qaida, ISIS, who want to enforce sharia and establish Khilafa in an Islamic State for all Muslims.
The Baloch nation has the potential to play a pivotal role in establishing regional and even global peace. The Baloch pro-freedom organisations and parties have expressed full desire to cooperate with intentional laws and become a productive partner with the international community. Even on their own, the Baloch Sarmachar have driven out numerous terrorist organisations from Balochistan, and have been fighting extremists and religious fanatics for over 60 years.
The Baloch Nation forever follows the path set forth by leaders like Ghulam Mohmmad, Lala Munir, Sher Mohmmad, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Saba Dashtyari, and Balaach Marri. The heroes of the nation who sacrificed their lives to continue the struggle of those before them.
