Balochistan: Pakistan’s elections face strong resistance and resentment

QUETTA: Pakistan’s general elections in Balochistan face strong resentment and resistance from pro-independence armed organisations. Like every election, this year also the Baloch youth show no interest in Pakistan’s elections and Baloch pro-freedom leaders and activists have been advocating for the boycott of elections.

The Baloch Liberation Army and other armed organisation continue their attacks on Pakistani forces, election candidates, polling stations and other facilities for elections.

The BLA has appealed to the people of Balochistan not to leave their homes on February 7 and 8 unnecessarily saying, “These so-called elections have no natural or legal connection with the Baloch nation and land.

“Under the guise of this election, Pakistan wants to mislead the world into believing that Balochistan is a legal province of Pakistan. In this matter, the participation of the Baloch nation in these elections is not only equivalent to strengthening the satanic position of the occupier but also strangling our own national identity that spans thousands of years. “

There have been several attacks on Pakistan’s election events in Balochistan. In Barkhan the BLA fighters bombed a government facility, that was being used for the activities of Pakistani elections in the Nahadkot area of   Barkhan. As a result of the attack, the building was destroyed.

In another similar attack, BLA hurled a hand grenade residence of a Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) candidate in Kech Balochistan.

In Kalat, the old Capital of Balochistan, BLA fighters attacked the Roshar Polling Station attached to the police station in Kalat city with a hand grenade.

In, Kharan, the election office of the National Assembly (NA 260) candidate of Pakistan, Changez Sasoli was attacked.

The BLA spokesperson, Azad Baloch, informed the media that BLA fighters also targeted Police Superintendent Aziz Jakrani with a remote-control bomb mounted on a motorcycle in Kharan.

The BLA in its statement said, “Aziz Jakrani has been following policies hostile to the Baloch nation and movement for a long time. We want to make it clear that in any area of Balochistan including Kharan, if any police officer works against Baloch cause on the instructions of the occupying forces and agencies, action will be taken against him.”

The Baloch Liberation Army fighters also bombed the election office of Sadiq Sanjrani’s brother and BAP party’s candidate Ejaz Sanjrani in Kharan City.

BLA fighters attacked another “potential polling station” in the Mand Bullo area in Balochistan.

Another attack took place against the personnel of the Pakistani forces who were posted for the security of the train in the Sunadi area of   Harnai.

The BLA in a statement to the media said, “The attack was carried out when several units of Pakistani forces were providing security to the train in Sunadi. Among them, a squad of 6 personnel was targeted.

“As a result of the attack, 3 personnel were killed on the spot while the remaining personnel ran away leaving the dead bodies,” BLA spokesperson Azad Baloch claimed.

Our such attacks will continue till the independence of occupied Balochistan.

A hand grenade was hurled at Qilla School, designed to be used, as a Polling Station for the ongoing elections in Kharan. Baloch Liberation Army accepts responsibility for the attack.

In another similar attack, the residence of the candidate for National Assembly (NA 258) Buleda area of  Kech was targeted.

Separately, the BLA fighters attacked the NADRA office in Washuk with a hand grenade on Tuesday evening.

A hand grenade was hurled at the Chahsar polling station in Turbat, Balochistan and the Baloch accepted responsibility for the attack.

The BLA fighters targeted the social welfare office located in the Babu Mohalla area of Kharan city with explosives.

In a statement, the groups argued that the Social Welfare Office in Kharan was an important and major polling station for the so-called elections of “the occupying state”.

A high school in the Kallag area of Panjgur came because it was a polling station was set up at the school. The BLA accepted responsibility for the attack.

In its latest statement to the media, the BLA said that its fighters attacked the Killi Sher Jan Polling Station and the Levies personnel deployed for its security in the Safed area of Kohlu with rockets and automatic weapons.

On February 7, Baloch fighters hurled a hand grenade at the Girls High School located in the Vashbud area of   Panjgur.

Another school was targeted in the Goth Bahadur area of Vashbud in Panjgur.

The Baloch Liberation Army in its press statement said that the schools were targeted in response to the activities and preparations for the “so-called election of Pakistan.”

Azad Baloch, spokesperson, of the Baloch Liberation Army reiterated BLA  fighters can target any polling station anytime across Baloch. “Baloch nation is requested to ensure the safety of their lives and property by staying away from the so-called elections.”