Baloch and Pashtun should unite and support the doctors of Balochistan: Hyrbyair Marri

LONDON: The pro-freedom Baloch leader and head of Free Balochistan Movement in a statement said on Monday that the world is fighting Corona Virus from China and every nation is supporting their paramedics, doctors and nurses. Whereas, in occupied Balochistan, Pakistani state transferred all suspected coronavirus patients in Taftan area of Balochistan, who arrived from Iran.

They did not provide any facilities to those travellers who were suspected of having coronavirus and they were put in makeshift camps without any amenities in subhuman conditions and the local staff lacked medical equipment to deal with them. The whole crisis was created by Pakistan’s incompetent policies, they are purposely denying medical equipment, now the virus is spreading to all corners of Balochistan.

Mr Marri also spoke about the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to doctors in Balochistan and said, ‘From the last several days, doctors of Balochistan who are on the frontline, fighting this Chinese virus were protesting because they are being denied Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). So far, 12 doctors in Balochistan have contracted Chinese Corona Virus (Covid19) as they had no adequate protection gears against this virus.

Yesterday, while they were protesting and demanding basic PPE kits they were baton-charged, tortured and 150 health workers were arrested by the occupying state.’

He added that according to the international law, it is the duty and responsibility of an occupying administration to provide all the necessities to the population, but the Pakistani state has never had any regard for international laws and conventions. When natural disasters and epidemic have stricken Balochistan, the occupying state always left the local population to fend for themselves.

The top Baloch leader said that colonisation by the Pakistani state resulted in Balochistan lacking in the modern economy, education and basic health infrastructure. Gold, natural gas, copper and other mineral resources are being plundered by Pakistan and China but most of the population lives below the poverty line.

Mr Marri said in his statement further said that Balochistan is regarded as the worse region in the world for newborn children, where a large number of mothers and their newborns die due to malnutrition. Pakistani state brought suffering, not for one tribe, area or profession but to the whole of Balochistan, it has brought misery.

He urged the Baloch and Pashtuns to unite and stand with the doctors of Balochistan, adding, ‘Pakistan is indiscriminate just like Coronavirus when it comes to the people of Balochistan. Baloch and Pashtuns should unite at this critical juncture and must support their doctors in their struggle who are fighting to save the people of Balochistan from this pandemic.’