Balochistan: Pakistan Intelligence agencies intimidating peaceful protesters: BSC

QUETTA: The Baloch Solidarity Committee (BSC) has said in a statement that it had received reports from various parts of Balochistan that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies were trying to interfere in their peaceful protests.

The Baloch Solidarity Committee (BSC) also known as Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) comprises of Baloch public from all walks of life and apparently is not affiliated with any particular political party.

The Committee was formed after a string of attacks, acts of robbery and killing of innocent Baloch youth by Pakistani security forces and Pakistan army-backed criminal death squads in different areas of Balochistan.

Its latest wave of Balochistan-wide protests started after the news of mysterious death of ex-chairperson of BSO-Azad (Baloch Student Organisation – Azad) in Toronto, Canada.

In the last few days, the Committee has organised peaceful demonstrations in all major cities of Balochistan including Karachi, Dera Ghazi Khan and Quetta – the capital of Balochistan. They have announced several other protests in coming days and weeks to demand justice for Karima Baloch.

In its statement on Saturday, the BSC said that participants from Pasni send pictures of plain-clothed intelligence operatives trying to harass peaceful protesters but people gathered on the platform of the Baloch Solidarity Committee and continued their peaceful demonstration.

According to the statement of BSC Bank Karima’s murder is not a trivial incident for the Baloch nation, People in Balochistan are in grief and anger, and the youth are losing hope for justice. ‘Even in such circumstances, on the appeal of Baloch Solidarity Committee People took part in the demonstrations and so far in these demonstrations, there has not been a single incident of violence which is a proof of our message for peace and justice.’

The BSC statement maintained that it had received reports from Dera Bugti that people there had been beaten up by pro-army deaths squads for posting pictures of Bank Karima on social media. People’s mobile phones were also snatched but BSC activists did not lose patience. ‘We directed people to focus on their peaceful rallies and demonstration which is our basic right,’ the BSC said.

However, the manner in which MI (Military Intelligence) officials were raiding the houses of the organizers after the peaceful protest rallies in Pasni was not acceptable, the committee statement said adding that social activist Shiraz Akbar and a woman’s house in Pasni were raided for their arrest or extrajudicial arrest and disappearance.

The BSC said that a large number of political activists and members of student organizations were reported missing and thousands of mutilated bodies of these peaceful people were dumped. The situation was worsening day by day.

 ‘Political activities stagnated, People stopped writing and speaking out of fear but the attitude of law enforcement agencies and the government has changed only to the extent of rhetoric. Instead of reducing military operations and kidnappings, they have been intensified day by day,’ the BSC charged.

The BSC statement further said that the people protesting in Balochistan are not part of any political party’s plan or it is not for power politics but people are coming out against the atrocities against them. The parties supporting these demonstrations are present in the Parliament of Pakistan because it is not a problem of any one political party but a matter of life of the people of Balochistan and the Baloch nation.

In its statement, the Committee clarified that the BSC was not a political party but a human rights organization which came into being in response to the failed performance of human rights institutions in Pakistan. In Balochistan, the bodies of innocent Baloch are being dumped.

The Baloch Solidarity Committee said that earlier, people were accused of being linked to separatism and armed resistance. It has become commonplace for dissidents to be accused of being agents of RAW, but our protests are about justice and human freedom. How can they threaten the very existence of a country? And why would an enemy of Pakistan help anyone build a peaceful and progressive society here?

The Committee appealed to the human rights organizations working in Pakistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Amnesty International, Human Rights Minister Shirin Mazari support people’s right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and stop the security forces from intimidating organisers of peaceful protests.

The Baloch nation can no longer bear any loss of life and we will not remain silent killing of innocent people.

In its message to Baloch nation, the Solidarity Committee said, ‘We have to bring unity and solidarity in our ranks and the forces that are preventing us from peacefully protesting want to kill us quietly.  It is not that if we will be silent, then our lives will be spared, so fearlessly go out for your legitimate human and civil rights, support each other and do not be afraid, if we leave the people alone to raise their voices today, tomorrow there will be no one to raise a voice for us. So do not compromise on your rights and do not leave each other at any cost.”