28 March 2009

Balochistan: Massive protest rallies against forceful annexation of Baloch land with Pakistan


REPORTED BY JUMA BALOCH


Quetta: Several Massive protest rallies were held across Balochistan and Karachi against the forceful annexation of Balochistan with Pakistan at gunpoint on 27 March 1948. Baloch Women Panel jointly with BRP. Elum Itehad, Raisani Qaumi Itehad, Baloch Bar Association, Marri Itehad and many other Baloch freedom loving groups held a Massive protest rally in Quetta, Capital of Balochistan. The rally passing form several main roads of Quetta finally gathered at Manan Chauk Where several leaders of BWP and other organizations addressed the rally. Main focus of all the speakers was that Balochistan was an Independent state and pakistan occupied Balochistan at gunpoint. The then ruler of Balochistan Ahmad Yar Khan was coerced to singe the so called annexation document with Pakistan, however his younger brother Agha Abdul Karim revolted against the forceful annexation of Baloch land. He took to mountains with other like minded friends and started guerrilla operation against Punjabi occupying forces in Balochistan. Today's struggle for Free Balochistan is a continuation of all past patriot Baloch leaders' struggles from Agha Abdul Karim to Shaheed Balach Marri who had laid their lives for the sake of motherland Balochistan and Baloch Nation and paid the ultimate price.participants of the rally chanted slogans against Pakistan, its army, rulers and the Punjabi establishment. The participants were holding the pictures of young Baloch leaders like Brahumdagh Bugti, Shaheed Balaach Marri, Hyrbair Marri, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch and missing persons. They held placards inscribed as "struggle for an Independent Balochistan shall continue" "Long live Baloch National army"" Only solution to Balochistan issue is Independence" "No to Provincial autonomy, we want freedom" " UN must recognize Baloch struggle for Freedom" "Release Baloch political prisoners" etcThe leaders of Baloch groups have rejected the so called reconciliation talks of Zardari. They said that Zardari doesn't have the mandate to resolve Balochistan issue. The new so called democratic govt is also following the foot-prints of former dictator's regime. Baloch student and political activists are still being arrested on daily bases. Army operation is still going on in Balochistan, a large number of army is still present in most areas of Balochistan. Baloch women and children are still being killed and insulted by the Pakistan soldiers. They said while they spoke about the atrocities and injustices of the past, Pakistan army is carrying out yet another offensive operation in Dera Bugti and several areas of Kohistan Marri. They strongly condemned the abduction of Shahzaib Baloch by Pakistani agencies and demanded his immediate release alongwith many thousands of Baloch missing people. BWP leaders said that today Baloch are struggling to save their Identity, language and tradition from extinction. Baloch sarmachaars are defending thier mother land against the foreign occupying forces, they are also defending the defenseless people of Balochistan, who are under constant attack from Pakistan's Punjabi army.They demanded UN intervention and asked the UN to send a fact finding mission to Balochistan in order to investigate about forced disappearances and forced displacements of Baloch people. They further said that UN must recognize the legitimate struggle of Baloch resistance movements against the illegitimate occupation of Baloch land.Saparetly BSO (mohiodeen) and BNP-M held a joint rally in Quetta and demanded for Baloch national rights. Speaking at a rally on Friday, leaders of the Balochistan National Party-M, National Party and Baloch Students’ Organisation-M said the economic package announced in Quetta by President Zardari was a mockery of sacrifices made by people like Nawab Akbar Bugti and Nawabzada Balaach Marri. They said the leaders had not sacrificed their lives for ‘some billion rupees’.The Baloch people were waging a political struggle to achieve national rights and to protect their coast and resources, the speakers said at the Science College Chowk. They said the Baloch had already rejected mega projects launched by former president Pervez Musharraf.They said Balochistan was rich in natural resources and the Baloch people had a right to use them for their own welfare. ‘We won’t need the president’s economic package if we are allowed to use our resources.’On the other hand BNF (Baloch National Front), BSO-A, Baloch Human Rights Council and Baloch National movement also held a massive joint protest rally in Liyari area of Karachi.Speaking at the occasion BNF leaders demanded the immediate release of Baloch political prisoner and missing person. They said several thousand Baloch were either missing or being tortured by Pakistani agencies in different torture cells across Pakistan. They said many thousand Marri and Bugti Baloch have been forcefully displaced from their homes and are now living under extreme condition. The forced displaced Baloch have not been provided any shelter, food and medicine by the govt of time, like the past regimes.

27 March 2009

Balochistan: BSO (azaad) shal zonal president abducted by pak-agencies


Quetta: Baloch Warna Balochistan correspondent reported that BOS (azaad) Shal zonal president Mr Shahzaib Baloch have been abducted by Pakistan agencies in the early hours of Thursday morning. According to details Mr Shahzaib was on his way back to home after dropping a friend at his place. His car was stopped on the way and he was dragged out of his car by five people all in civilian clothes, put into another car and driven away to an unknown location.

Baloch Students and BRP activists have blocked the roads in several areas of Quetta city and protested for several hours. Traffic was suspended for many hours in some part of the city.

BSO -azaad (women wing) also blocked the road near Balochistan university and held a protest rally.

Speaking on the occasion BSO (azaad) activists asked for the immediate release of Mr Shahzaib. Speaker said this is a continuations of abductions of innocent Baloch people by the Pakistani agencies. On one hand the new govt talks of reconciliation, on the other hand they are continuing the policies of the Musharraf regime by abducting and killing Baloch people. They further stated that the agencies cannot stop the Baloch struggle for independence by kidnapping our activists.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/balochwarna/sets/72157615946012410/

Zardari vows to heal Balochistan’s wounds, but can he???


QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reiterated his commitment to expedite the reconciliation process in Balochistan and bring the angry people and tribes into the national mainstream.

“Balochistan is facing numerous problems, and nobody other than us (the Pakistan People’s Party) know about them, and we have the determination to resolve them,” said Asif Ali Zardari at a briefing on law and order and the development process and later while addressing the PPP workers at the Chief Minister House.

President Zardari was accorded a warm welcome upon his arrival at the Quetta Airport in the afternoon. Those who received him included Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, federal and provincial ministers and PPP Balochistan chapter President Senator Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani.

President Zardari said he and the people of Balochistan had the same manifesto, vowing that the PPP government would give due rights to the people of Balochistan. “We have come into power because of the great sacrifices rendered by Benazir Bhutto and the PPP workers. We know how to resolve the problems that people are facing.”

He said Balochistan had witnessed four insurgencies in the past, but the PPP-led coalition government would make such an arrangement that in future, nobody would pick up weapons for the sake of their rights.

About the problems facing the country, he said: “We have successfully resolved the political issues and we will resolve the remaining issues soon.” He said Pakistan’s economy had been strengthened due to positive policies of the government despite the international financial crisis.

Earlier, a meeting, also attended by President Zardari, decided to form a committee to bring the dissidents into the national mainstream. It was also decided that full security would be provided to the companies engaged in oil and gas exploration in different parts of the province.

The meeting also approved special funds to improve the performance of the law enforcement agencies in the province. The meeting was also attended by the Balochistan governor, the chief minister and federal and provincial ministers.

President Zardari also held meetings with the Balochistan governor and the chief minister soon after his arrival.

PPI adds: Addressing members of Balochistan cabinet, President Zardari said huge funds would be made available for development of the province. He said all ongoing development projects would be completed at the earliest.

Addressing a briefing on the law and order situation in the province, he directed the formation of a parliamentary committee to compile suggestions to bring all provincial tribes into the national mainstream after holding negotiations with the tribal elders.

“Recommendations of the parliamentary committee will be implemented to enable all tribes to contribute to the development of the province,” he added. He assured that the province’s share in the revenue generated through exploitation of its natural resources would be increased. He directed the formation of a parliamentary committee to look into the matter. Earlier, President Zardari was told that there was a proposal to construct eight new dams in the province and the federal government would provide resources for this purpose.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21172

Five Balochistan Ministers Resign Over Cm's ‘attitude'


LAHORE: Five ministers of the Balochistan cabinet, from the Pakistan People's Party, have quit their portfolios in protest at the ‘attitude' of provincial Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.

According to the channel, the ministers who have announced their resignations are Sadiq Imrani, Amin Imrani, Agha Irfan, Asfandyar Kakar and Jan Ali Changaizi. The ministers would hand over their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday.

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C03%5C26%5Cstory_26-3-2009_pg7_10

26 March 2009

Two gas pipelines blown up in Quetta, BRA claimes responsibility for

Quetta: Baloch Freedom Fighters of BRA have bown up two gas pipelines in Keraniarea of Quetta city. according to details baloch militants has put explosivedevices under gas pipelines in Kirani and Samangali road areas. The explodedwith a big bang and ripped a big portion of gas pipeline. Gas supply has beensuspended to the surrounding areas.Sarbaz Baloch a spokesperson for BRA has called different news agencies andclaimed responsibility for blowing up the gas pipelines.Meanwhile Lavang Khan Baloch a spokesperson for Lashker-e-Balochistan alsocalled local newspaper office and informed them that his organization claimsresponsibility for hurling grenades into a bakery in Kharan which inured twopeople including a police officer.


REPOTED BY JUMA BALOCH

News : Balochistan: attacks on security forces continue, head consta

REPORTED BY JUMA BALOCH

Balochistan: Spokesman for BRA Mr Sarbaaz Baloch claimed that his organization'sFighters attack an FC camp with rocket launcher and other automatic weapon, inDash Goran area of Dera Bugti. One Pakistani soldier was killed and four injuredin the attack.In another incident two rockets were fired on a Police station in Makatali Matharea of Sui. Wall of the police station was heavily damaged in the attack but noloss of life has been reported.Six Pakistani security personal were reported injured in a separate incident inKachi Kanel area. according details Baloch Freedom Fighter of BRA ambushed theFC team when they were patrolling in the area. Due the intensive attack the FCvehicle was destroyed and six Pakistani soldiers were injured.Mr Sarbaaz Baloch further said that he rejects the govt claims about destroyingthe militants camps, killing and arrest of Baloch Freedom Fighter in Dera Bugtiarea. He however said that only one Baloch Freedom Fighter received martyrdomand 4 other injured but no one has been arrest by Pakistani army.He said the Pakistani paramilitary forces are targeting civilians in the areaand several unarmed and defenseless residents have been arrested and taken toundisclosed locations. He said that FC IG is just making up statements to getpromoted.Meanwhile a police head constable had been shot dead in Qalat city. according tomedia reports the police officer Zahoor Shah was standing outside his house,when three motorcyclists open fire on him. The official died at the spot.Another Baloch organization Lashkar-e-Balochistan claimed responsibility blowingup a railway track in Almo Chaok area of Quetta Balochistan, spokesman LavangKhan informed the reporters about this attack.Pakistani army on the other is carrying out the military operation in severalarea of Dera Bugti and Sui, several person have been arrested on the fourth dayof operation.There are also reports of a house -to - house search operation in WadhBalochistan. However no arrests were made until the filling of the report.

Balochistan: Hundreds of children protest against forced disappearan

Reported by Yousuf Baloch



Quetta; Hundreds of Baloch children gathered in front of Quetta press club toprotest against forced disappearances in Baluchistan. They were holding thepictures of their loved one ie their fathers, brothers and uncles. The protestrally was organised by BRP (Baloch Republican Party). The children chantedslogan against Pakistan and the agencies and demand the international (UN)interference for the recovery of missing person in Baluchistan.Addressing the rally the children spoke of their difficulties that they face duetheir fathers or guardians not being present at home. They said it was their ageto go to school but instead they are forced to come out in streets and protestfor the recovery of their loved one. Due to their fathers abductions manychildren are now scared to go to schools. Many children were of the view thattheir fathers were their only bread earner who have been abducted by thePakistani agencies, now they even cannot effort to go to schools thus they areforced to leave their education uncompleted at this age.They said recently Pakistan has handed-over 5 Baloch men to Iran, where theywill almost certainly face death and destruction, Iran has the highest recordfor hanging people in public places. The children said we do not ask forPakistan's mercy , but do demand from the international community to take actionagainst Pakistan and Iran for the atrocities they are committing against ourpeople.Jamal Baloch of BRP said from last 62 years Baloch are tolerating the atrocitiesand indiscriminate bombardment of the state. He further said that some so calledBaloch too are equally responsible for the heinous actions of the state, Today'sNawab Raisani and Magsi are the examples of such people who follow the stateorders against their own people.After the killing of our National leaders like Nawab Akbar Bugti and NawabzadaBalach Marri these so called Baloch nationalists have no excuse to remain inpower, or take part in elections. Baloch youth are being tortured in secretcells in every corner of Pakistan, facing humiliation and their families beingdestroyed. The incident of Zarina Marri is also an example to everyone and isenough to wake us up.Qadir Baloch of Watan movement said that today's protest of Baloch children isanother step added to Baloch National Movement. He said that Pakistan and Iranare jointly responsible for killing thousands of innocent Baloch men and women.Past two years Iran has publicly hanged more then 900 Baloch and another 200 arewaiting to be executed.Baluchistan's issue needs to be addressed internationally that is why EuropeanUnion, United Nations and Arab league and American must pay attention toBaluchistan's conflict. Baluchistan issue must be resolved according to the willof Baloch people, he said.Shah Mir Marri addressing the rally said that full scale army operation iscontinuing in Marri and Bugti areas. People are being abducted on daily basesonly because they oppose the army operation in Baluchistan, most of the abductedare either women or children. Baloch missing person are being severely torturedin army secret cells and our loved-ones lives are in grave danger. Many Balochhave been sentenced for crimes they have not committed and are languishing injails from past many years. We demand of the authorities that all missing Balochpolitical activists be released immediately and all false cases against ourloved one must be withdrawn.We appeal from the UN to take serous notice of the forced disappearances inBalochistan and spend the same amount of energy to save our loved ones, that isbeing spent to save the life of jhon Soleck. We see many people are worriedabout Jhon Solecki but no body cares about our relatives who are missing formmany years.Shah Mir Marri said that the state of Pakistan must not think we are week orpowerless, our struggle is for independent Baluchistan and that will continueuntil we reach to our destination.www.balochmedia.net

2 gas pipelines blown up in Sui, Dera Bugti, BRA claimed responsibility

DERA BUGTI: BRA fighters men on Wednesday blew up two gas pipelines in Sui and Dera Bugti. The men had planted explosives under the pipeline that damaged a portion of the pipeline, affecting gas supply to parts of the Sindh province and Sui Power Plant.According to details an 18-inch gas pipeline was blown up at Pir koh, due to powerful blast gas supply to Sui plant was cut off. In second incident a 16-inch pipeline was blown up near Deenari Pat. Gas supply to parts of Sindh including Karachi was suspended due to the explosionSeparately, three men were injured in a landmine explosion near Goth Muhammad Omar in Dera Murad Jamali on Wednesday. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital

A Lesson to be Learnt: the Baloch Perspective

REPOTED BY JUMA BALOCH


There is no doubt that the world has shrunk and has become a global village andmany members of this global community are facing similar problems. Some countieshave willingly or unwillingly chosen a path as a solution to their troubles,while others have ignorantly adhered to their policy of denial and are facingturmoil.Indonesia and Pakistan have many things in common; both the countries have aMuslim majority, both gained their so-called freedom after the Second World War,both have a history of occupying other nation's territory, both the countrieshave been ruled for most of the time by military dictators and both thecountries' natural resources have been utilised for the benefit of the dominantruling nation.Because of these similarities some Baloch intellectuals are trying to give animpression that the Baloch nation is willing to solve their dissatisfaction withIslamabad on the line of peace agreement between the government of Indonesia andthe Free Aceh Movement (GAM)/ Aceh Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF),mediated by the former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. Under the agreement,Aceh would receive special autonomy and government troops would be withdrawnfrom the province in exchange for ASNLF's disarmament.When we, the Baloch look at the history of Indonesia, we need to ask ourselves;with whom does our heart beat? With whom do our aspirations flow? With whom ourhistory has similarities? Before we jump to any conclusion or suggest anysolution to the Baloch question, we should acknowledge the public opinion of ournation. We should know the dreams of our elders, aspirations of our youth andhopes of our children. We should know the objective condition that surrounds usand the strategic importance of our land in the global war for energy.Baloch nation has gone through a lot since March 23, 1948, when the Pakistanarmy moved in and occupied Kalat, the capital of the free Balochistan. Afterexperiencing only 227 days of freedom in which we elected our representativeassembly and wrote a constitution as a free nation of this global village.Pakistan's army trampled every thing under their boots - Baloch nation's pride,freedom, representative assembly, constitution and mostly our mother land anddeclared it a part of Pakistan. Similarly in 1975 East Timor lost its freedomafter being free for nine days from Portugal. The puppet regime installed byIndonesia in East Timor, after its invasion, endorsed the integration of EastTimor into Indonesia. Thus, on July 17, 1976, East Timor officially became the27th province of the Republic of Indonesia.Similarity between East Timor and Balochistan does not stop there, during thetime of their decolonization; cold war became a hurdle for both to become a freenation. Washington expressed its concern over East Timor, because Indonesia wasan ally in its war in Vietnam and it did not want to see the vast archipelagodestabilized by a left-wing regime in its midst. Gough Whitlam, Australia'sLabor Prime Minister told Suharto that an independent Portuguese Timor would bean unviable state, and a potential threat to the stability of the region, and heconsidered integration with Indonesia to be in Portuguese Timor's bestinterests. In Balochistan's case a memorandum dated 12 September, 1947 was sentby the British Minster of the state for the commonwealth relations to the UnitedKingdom High Commissioner in Karachi in which he was asked to do what he couldto guide the Pakistan government away from making any agreement with Kalat whichwould involve recognition of the state as a separate international entity.The solution to Baloch national question can not be found confined to theadministrative boundaries defined by Pakistan. Baloch nation historically neveraccepted the Goldsmith Line (1871) nor has it ever recognized the Durand Line(1893), commissioned by the British Raj to stop the Russian influence in theregion. These artificial boundaries may have divided the Baloch into separatestates but could not stop them from considering themselves a single nation.Today nobody can deny the strategic location of the Baloch land for peace andeconomic stability in the region. Robert G. Wirsing, in his article "BalochNationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources", wrote, "A sizable hint ofenergy's gathering importance to the conflict in Balochstan was, of course,already apparent decades ago in the pages of Harrison's book." If it were notfor the strategic location of Baluchistan and the rich potential of oil,uranium, and other resources," Harrison observed, "it would be difficult toimagine anyone fighting over this bleak, desolate, and forbidding land." Shrinking of the energy resources is the main factor in the instability of theworld economy today, and because of it, wars were waged to secure them. The vastamounts of untapped fossil fuel reserves in Central Asia need to be channeledinto the world market to stabilize its demand. All the projects to channelCentral Asian fuel to the Arabian Sea or the IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gaspipeline to India and China run through Balochistan. Unless there is peace inBalochistan these projects will remain on paper. Even Pakistani writers likeShaukat Qadir in his article, "Strategic significance of Balochistan", acceptthe importance of Balochistan's strategic location. He wrote, "Analysts havefrequently adverted to Pakistan's `strategic location'; linking the Middle Eastvia Iran, Central Asia, China, and South Asia. While Balochistan provides theonly direct link to Iran and onwards to the Middle East, the truth is thatwithout Balochistan, the remaining linkages that Pakistan provides to otherregions are reduced to less than half their strategic value, since the onlyother port at Karachi could never handle the magnitude of the potentialcommerce".When the riches and the strategic importance of this land were not known to theworld. when it was only a "bleak, desolate, and forbidding land" the Balochnation called it its home. As a free nation it resisted domination andoccupation by the Afghans, Persians, British and Pakistan. The last one hundredyear history of Balochistan shows that it lost its freedom and was occupied byforeign powers but these foreigners never ruled Balochistan peacefully. Balochpolitics has always been dominated by rebellions. Intermittently there weretimes when the Baloch elders tried to negotiate peace with the occupiers but italways left a bitter taste and a deep scar in the collective memory of theBaloch nation. Khan Kalat Mir Mehrab Khan's peace treaty with the Britishresulted in the martyrdom of Mir Mehrab Khan and the occupation of Kalat. Theoutcome of Mir Dost Mohammed Baranzai's peace negotiation with Reza Shah Pehlaviwas the hanging of the Baloch leader and the occupation of western Makuran byIran. The outcome of Prince Karim's acceptance for talks with Pakistan was abrutal crushing of the movement and long prison sentences for the Balochleadership. Peace, even in the name of the Holy Quran could not change the fateof Nawab Nouroze Khan and his sons. Negotiations with General Ayub Khan resultedin incarceration and hanging of the Baloch leaders in Hyderabad and Sukkerjails. Signing the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan by Mir Ghous Bux Bezinjo andSardar Attaullah Mengal did not stop the ban on NAP and the dissolution ofBalochistan Government followed by the military operation and the long termsentences in Hyderabad Conspiracy Case.The people of East Timor fought against the occupation by Indonesia for 24years. There were times when many of the Timorese thought that it was a lostcause, but Xanana Gusmão's Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor(FRETILIN) never surrendered its demand for freedom. FRETILIN resisted theinvading Indonesian army, suffering heavy losses at times; they retreated to themountains to keep the struggle alive. The East Timor Diaspora, scattered aroundthe world initiated a solidarity movement for East Timor which initially facedlots of problems but ultimately they won the international opinion in favour ofEast Timor. During the historical struggle for freedom there were times whenFRETILIN was very weak but it did not surrender its demand for East Timor'sfreedom. FRETILIN never participated in any elections held under the supervisionof the occupier; it never accepted Indonesia's occupation over East Timor. Both,the struggle inside East Timor by FRETILIN and outside the country by SolidarityMovement for East Timor brought the Indonesian government to its knees.Indonesia had no other choice but to accept United Nation mediation. On 30thAugust 1999 referendum was held under the supervisor of UN for East Timorself-determination. Defying threats and intimidation by Indonesia's army and itsEast Timor puppet pro-Indonesia militias, the majority of East Timorese votedfor freedom. On 20th May 2002 East Timor became an independent nation on theworld map.History shows that Baloch nation's struggle for self-rule swung in differentextremes during the course of its history from provincial autonomy toindependence. Lacking political unity, wisdom and a clear vision persistentwith the genuine aspirations of our people, the leadership confused long termobjectives with short term gains and the nation suffered as a consequence. Thisis the fifth time that the Baloch nation has picked up arms to stop the militaryaggression of Pakistan, started 60 years ago, which clearly indicates that allother means have failed to make the rulers of Pakistan understand the realitiesof the Baloch nation. The recent revolt that started in 2004 at Dera Bugti andKohlu has now spread all over Balochistan as a widely popular movement in theBaloch masses. Geopolitical changes in the region, modern communication networkand a stark awareness of the fact that the Baloch as a nation faces the risk ofbeing annihilated from the face of the earth. No wonder this new phase ofstruggle in Balochistan is popularly called the `Last War'.Since the coming in power of the new so-called democratic forces in Islamabad,hopes for peaceful resolution to the Baloch conflict are being echoed fromdifferent quarters of the Baloch leadership. It should be clear to the Balochmasses and its leadership that these new so-called democratic forces are handpicked corrupt political managers of the old establishment which started theaggression on Balochistan sixty year ago. Within six months the new governmentinstalled in Islamabad had shown its ethical bankruptcy. President Asif AliZardari, leader of this new regime backtracked on his written agreement with hiscoalition partners saying, "Written political agreements are not binding likethe Koran". Those Baloch leaders who think these new unprincipled corruptpolitical managers in Islamabad are sincere in solving the Baloch question areeither politically naive or as devious as the new mouth organs of the oldestablishment, in either case they are damaging the Baloch national movement.This is the final call for the Baloch leaders who claim to be nationalists. It'sabout time that they should get their act together and chalk out a clear cutprogram as per the desire of the nation. We should learn from the history ofEast Timor never to surrender our demand for freedom and keep the struggle liveat any cost. Until and unless the forces against our freedom are brought totheir knees, they will not accept our demand. It's not just the question of thePakistani army top brass and its handpicked politicians, even the Pakistaniintelligentsia is not yet ready to treat us the way Indonesia is treating Achepeople. Daily Times editorial dated, 6th August 2008, commenting on SanaullahBaloch's article, A lesson to be learnt, wrote, "One can say that Pakistan is indisarray today but it has not reached the state of Indonesian collapse in1999."And it continues, "It would be extremely perverse to tell Mr Baloch thathe may have to wait till the state of Pakistan collapses as completely asIndonesia did in 1999 before Balochistan becomes another Aceh." Then itconcludes, "Most Pakistanis are favourably inclined to grant a lot more autonomyto the provinces than is now granted in the Constitution." It is clear that theyare now willing to give us some sort of autonomy within the framework of theinterests of the dominant nation and save the army from complete embarrassment,but not the status of Aceh, let alone complete freedom. It is now up to ourleadership what they want? Accept their perverse autonomy or fight for a specialautonomy like Aceh. In both the conditions, after all these sacrifices, we willleave our nation at the mercy of Pakistan's corrupt and brutal rulers who in thepast never kept their promises or else go for complete independence and gift ournation the freedom to choose their own destiny.http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/a-lesson-to-be-learnt-the-baloch-p\erspective-610375.html

Complete strike observed in Balochistan REPORTED BY MUHAMMAD EJAZ

QUETTA: Complete strike was observed in Balochistan on Tuesday on the call ofthe Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) to protest the suicide attack on a Madrassa inPishin in which six people had lost their lives.The strike crippled the provincial metropolis and other parts of the province asthe main business centres remained closed coupled with thin traffic on roads. InQuetta, banks and other financial institutions also witnessed low businessactivity.The suicide attack had targeted JUI-F provincial Amir Maulana Shirani and otherparty leaders but they escaped unhurt. The JUI-F took out a protest rally andmarched through city roads. It was later turned into a public meeting.Addressing the participants, JUI-F Secretary-General Maulana Abdul GhafoorHaideri, Senior Provincial Minister Maulana Abdul Wasey, Hafiz Hamdullah andother leaders condemned the suicide attack and attempt on the life of MaulanaShirani.They said it was not an attack on a Madrassa; rather it was an attack on thereligious forces and seminaries. They said an attempt was being made to suppressthe JUI-F, which is a voice of the Ummah and oppressed masses. They urged theparty workers to maintain calm.

25 March 2009

Gwadar Should Be Run By Balochistan, Say Gabol


QUETTA, March 25: With the judicial crisis behind him, President Asif Zardari will on Thursday get down to exploring ways and means for redressing Balochistan's grievances, according to Nabil Gabol, the minister of state for ports and shipping.

Mr Gabol, talking to reporters after meeting JWP president Talal Bugti here on Wednesday, said the president had formed a committee for the resolution of pressing problems relating to the province. The minister is a member of the body.
The Balochistan issue had become important after the restoration of the judiciary. "Balochistan is Pakistan's heart."

Mr Gabol said Balochistan and Pakistan "cannot prosper without each other".

The minister accused former president Pervez Musharraf of "murdering Nawab Bugti, Balaach Marri and other Baloch nationalist leaders", and called for his trial.

Highlighting Gwadar's strategic importance, Mr Gabol said that Karachi was vulnerable to "enemy attacks, while Gwadar is far away".

He said he had asked the president to transfer Gwadar port's operations to Balochistan because it was its rightful owner.

Referring to the judiciary crisis, he said the decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges had been taken 15 days ago and the perception that the judiciary had been restored as a result of protests was incorrect, adding that Nawaz Sharif had known about this all along. Nabeel Gabol alleged Mr Sharif had been goaded by "someone" into defying house arrest orders.

He said the PPP had made "some mistakes" and "some decisions" had been delayed. "Political rivals took advantage of it, but now these things are part of the past."-PPI

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/gwadar-should-be-run-by-balochistan%2C-say-gabol

22 March 2009

Mach: security forces shot dead two Baloch men

Reported By Juma Baloch


Mach: A security personal Gull Baz Khan died in a land mine explosion in Machtown. Meanwhile Pakistani FC has shot dead two Baloch men. Abdul Qudus and AbdulBaqi Baloch both residents of Ab-e-gum were killed by the security force whilethey walked toward Mach town, after an explosion near inter-college Mach.According to eye-witnesses both men were first arrested by FC and taken to anundisclosed location. Later they were shot dead in custody.Locals including BSO (azad) and BRP Mach zone members blocked Quetta-Sibihighway: Land links between Quetta and rest of the country were suspended afterenraged citizens blocked Quetta-Sibi Highway and staged a sit-in on railwaytrack. There was a compelet shutter-down in Mach town of Sibi district toprotest against killing two Baloch men. Local people and relatives of thedeceased demanded that an independant inquiry commission must be set up andthose responsible for killing these innocent civilian must be apprenhanded andpunished.BRP's Maqsood Baloch and BSO (azad's) centeral committee member Shohaz Balochwhile speaking to journalists, said that security personal have been given afree-hand. Army operation has now been extended to Bolan and surroundings afterthe army operation in Kohlu and Dera Bugti areas. Authories were trying tonegotiate with the locals, however the bodies of both men were still kept inmorgue and have not been handed over to relatives for burial.