A number of houses set on fire and several abducted during military operations in Balochistan

QUETTA: The residents of Espilinji, Johan, Marov and Narmuk regions of district Mastung Balochistan have strongly condemned the Pakistani security forces for grand search operations in their areas on 11 October, 2015.

In a press release they said that Pakistani security forces abducted 70 year old Atta Mohammad Bangulzai, his 38 year old son Mohammad Akram Bangulzai and 65 year old Ramatullah Bangulzai during a search operation few days ago.

A nephew of Mr Ramatullah Bangulzai said, “The Pakistani security force barged into a masjid (masque)  on Sunday morning and abducted the three men while they were busy reading the morning prayers. My cousin Anayatullah son of Ramatullah was abducted on May 23,  last year from Ispilinji during an operation and he is still in custody of Pakistan Frontier Corps.”

They said that the Pakistani forces violated the sanctity of Baloch houses and harassed women and children. They also rejected Pakistan security forces’ claims that the arrested men were affiliated with an armed group.

“The military operations, discovery of mutilated bodies of Baloch activists and enforced disappearances have become a daily practice of Pakistani forces in Balochistan,” the residents said in their press release.

The inhabitants of Ispilinji and surrounding areas also said that Pakistan forces terrorise women and children and loot and plunder the houses during search operations. “They rob people off their cash and valuables in the name of these anti Baloch search operations.”

The elders of Mastung have appeal the human rights organisations to take notice of the abduction of Baloch activists by Pakistani forces and paly their role for the immediate and safe release of above named Baloch elders.

The residents in their press release have rubbished the Pakistani security forces’ claim that the abducted men were affiliated with an armed organisation and that they possessed weapons. “Such allegations and lies are to mislead the international community,” the PR of residents read.

They also said that Pakistani forces have set up security check points in the region in past three years and have turned the educational institutions into military garrisons.

The local elders have said that since the National Party came in power, the Pakistan forces have intensified their atrocities across Balochistan and enforced-disappearances and the kill and dump policy in Balochistan has increased.

“The discovery of mass graves in Tutak area of Khuzdar containing hundreds of dead bodies is an obvious proof that they National Party’s is at forefront in implementing the Pakistani state’s anti-Baloch policies.”

Meanwhile Pakistan Frontier Corps claimed to have arrested at least three ‘suspected militant’ in Panjgur during an operation on Monday.

The identity of the arrested men could not be ascertained immediately but the forces have shifted them to an undisclosed location for the further investigation.

Separately the Baloch social media activists alleged that Pakistani forces burn down scores of houses in Nokjo area of Mashkay including the house of Jameel Baloch. Mr Baloch was abducted in 2012 and his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

The Pakistani force also reportedly looted all valuables and household stuffs from the houses before setting them on fire.