BALOACHISTAN (SANA): Pakistani authorities recovered at least 50 bodies and dozens of unconscious people from a shipping container in Balochistan on Saturday. According to police sources, the container which was parked in Hazar Ganji area of Quetta, the driver of the container truck fled from the spot which was carrying 110 people, apparently illegal immigrants being transported from Afghanistan to Iran via Pakistan.
Senior police official Wazir Khan Nasir said that 50 bodies and 60 people were recovered from the container. It was reported that the deaths apparently occurred because of suffocation.
The dead and the unconscious victims were transferred to the Bolan Medical Complex hospital in Quetta.
The death tolls might rise as many of the unconscious victims were in critical condition, therefore, an emergency was declared in major hospitals in Quetta to cope with the situation, officials said.
It is stated that most of the victims were hailed from Afghanistan and the area was cordon off and search operation was being carried out for detaining the driver.
8 April 2009
Balochistani group frees US hostage
An American UN worker has been freed by militants two months after he was snatched at gunpoint in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, officials say. The UN and local police said John Solecki was abandoned by his captors in a village near the city of Quetta. Mr Solecki, a UN refugee agency (UNHCR) worker, was snatched on 2 February in the city. His driver was killed. Militants from the hitherto unknown Balochistan Liberation United Front took responsibility for the abduction.
Balochistan's worsening situation
The group has made several statements since the kidnapping claiming that Mr Solecki was in poor health.
But UN spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis said Mr Solecki was "tired but he seems OK".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was very pleased Mr Solecki had been freed and thanked all those who had worked to secure his release.
The BLUF had demanded the release of thousands of prisoners it claimed were being held by the government.
A person claiming to speak for the group contacted local journalists earlier to say the American was being freed on humanitarian grounds.
Militants have been fighting a low-level insurgency in Balochistan for many years
Balochistan's worsening situation
The group has made several statements since the kidnapping claiming that Mr Solecki was in poor health.
But UN spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis said Mr Solecki was "tired but he seems OK".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was very pleased Mr Solecki had been freed and thanked all those who had worked to secure his release.
The BLUF had demanded the release of thousands of prisoners it claimed were being held by the government.
A person claiming to speak for the group contacted local journalists earlier to say the American was being freed on humanitarian grounds.
Militants have been fighting a low-level insurgency in Balochistan for many years
6 April 2009
The violation of human rights in Iran Balochistan
Mr. President,
The Baloch people in western Balochistan under Iranian control are facing the gross violation of their basic fundamental human rights. The Islamic regime of Iran resorts to most cruel approaches to suppress Baloch national aspirations in Balochistan. Arbitrary arrest, torture and other ill-treatment, as well as the use of the death penalty remain prevalent. Impunity for human rights abuses is widespread. Cultural and civic activities are banned or vigorously controlled by the regime. Publication of Balochi literature is not allowed, and Balochi are denied the right to educate their children in their own language. Systematic discrimination is exercised throughout Balochistan by the institutions. Non-governmental organizations, newspapers, magazines and websites have been forcibly closed by the authorities, which also regularly blocks internet access to a wide range of internet sites, including some relating to human rights. The Amnesty International in its recent report on the 30th anniversary of Islamic Republic of Iran (5th Feb 2009) has cited some graphic details on the state of affairs in Balochistan under the Iranian regime.
· Hundreds of Baloch people have been executed and killed by the regime in past few years. In 2008 a prominent civic activist Yahqob Mehrnehad who also was Secretary General of Justice Association was executed after many months of torture and imprisonment in Zahidan. Two prominent Baloch religious scholars, Molavi Abdul-Qodos Molazai and Molavi Yusuf Sohrabi with another 3 Baloch were executed under such fabricated allegations.
· On March 11, 2009 four Baloch, Normohd Ismailzai, Mojibulrahman Kurd, Babak Kurd and Mohd HassanKhan Hassani were executed in Zahidan. On March 3, 2009 two Baloch religious clergies, Molavi Khalilulla Zarahi and Salahudin Gwahramzahi were executed in Zahidan after being imprisoned and tortured for 9 months.
· Several religious leaders are under arrest and their whereabouts are not known to their relatives. Ibrahim Mehrnehad, the Younger brother of Yaqob Mehrnehad is still in prison and he is under mental tortures.
The Baloch Needs the Help of International Community
Mr. President, In the face of heinous crimes being committed by the Pakistani security forces in Balochistan and the unchecked violations of the basic human rights of the Baloch both in Pakistan and Iran, the silence of the international community is incomprehensible. The Baloch are facing a systematic genocide operation by an internationally recognised rogue state. The Baloch expectations and demands from the international community are genuine and simple. They are justified in demanding that:
1. The UN should establish a fact finding mission to investigate the acts of brutalities and violation of human rights by the state security forces of Pakistan in Balochistan.
2. The perpetrators of the heinous crimes against humanity should be brought to justice by initiating cases against them in the international court of justice in The Hague.
3. The United Nations should use their influence in asking the Pakistani establishment to immediately halt the aggressive actions against the Baloch.
4. The Baloch have never accepted the partition and incorporation of their land into different countries of the region. Right of self determination is the inalienable right of the Baloch people. The Baloch national question should be negotiated between the Baloch and the countries occupying the Baloch land under the auspices of the UN giving the universal right of self determination to the Baloch.
We believe that Baloch people need an urgent help from the UN and the international community. This is high time for the international community to rise and act before it is too late for Baloch people.
· Hundreds of Baloch people have been executed and killed by the regime in past few years. In 2008 a prominent civic activist Yahqob Mehrnehad who also was Secretary General of Justice Association was executed after many months of torture and imprisonment in Zahidan. Two prominent Baloch religious scholars, Molavi Abdul-Qodos Molazai and Molavi Yusuf Sohrabi with another 3 Baloch were executed under such fabricated allegations.
· On March 11, 2009 four Baloch, Normohd Ismailzai, Mojibulrahman Kurd, Babak Kurd and Mohd HassanKhan Hassani were executed in Zahidan. On March 3, 2009 two Baloch religious clergies, Molavi Khalilulla Zarahi and Salahudin Gwahramzahi were executed in Zahidan after being imprisoned and tortured for 9 months.
· Several religious leaders are under arrest and their whereabouts are not known to their relatives. Ibrahim Mehrnehad, the Younger brother of Yaqob Mehrnehad is still in prison and he is under mental tortures.
The Baloch Needs the Help of International Community
Mr. President, In the face of heinous crimes being committed by the Pakistani security forces in Balochistan and the unchecked violations of the basic human rights of the Baloch both in Pakistan and Iran, the silence of the international community is incomprehensible. The Baloch are facing a systematic genocide operation by an internationally recognised rogue state. The Baloch expectations and demands from the international community are genuine and simple. They are justified in demanding that:
1. The UN should establish a fact finding mission to investigate the acts of brutalities and violation of human rights by the state security forces of Pakistan in Balochistan.
2. The perpetrators of the heinous crimes against humanity should be brought to justice by initiating cases against them in the international court of justice in The Hague.
3. The United Nations should use their influence in asking the Pakistani establishment to immediately halt the aggressive actions against the Baloch.
4. The Baloch have never accepted the partition and incorporation of their land into different countries of the region. Right of self determination is the inalienable right of the Baloch people. The Baloch national question should be negotiated between the Baloch and the countries occupying the Baloch land under the auspices of the UN giving the universal right of self determination to the Baloch.
We believe that Baloch people need an urgent help from the UN and the international community. This is high time for the international community to rise and act before it is too late for Baloch people.
Mr. Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi
President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
5 April 2009
BSO (azaad) Women wing and BNP (M) demonstrations in Quetta and else where in Balochistan
Quetta: Baloch Student Organisation (azaad)'s Women wing organised a protest demonstration in Zarghoon Town Quetta,Balochistan, against the abduction of Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Shahzeb Baloch and thousands of other disappeared political activists in Balochistan.The participants of demonstration held placards, pictures of missing persons and they chanted slogans against the Pakistani agencies. They demanded the immediate release of missing Baloch activists and leaders. Speaking on the occasion the CC members of BSO (azaad) Farida Baloch, Bibi Gul, Nigaar Gul, Shamialh Bibi and Mah Noor Baloch of Baloch Women Panel said that on one hand the so called democratically elected govt says that they believe in reconciliation and want to address the grievances of Balochistan. On the other hand they are continuing the atrocities of the past regimes. They said that currently some 7000 Baloch are missing but the so called human rights organisations are also silent over such atrocities of Pakistani state. Shahzeb Baloch was arrest during Zardari's visit to Balochistan but Pakistani authorities are gravely mistaken if they think they can weaken the Baloch National struggle for Independence by such heinous crimes.They said Shahzeb Baloch is not only seriously ill and suffers from kidney pain but also he has to sit in exams on the 15th of April 2009. International Human Rights Organisations must take notice of the abduction of Shahzeb Baloch and other thousands of missing Baloch activists.In addition BNP (M) also held protest rallies and demonstrations in various places of Balochistan including Quetta, Noskhi, Kharan and Khuzdar. They too like BSO (azaad) demand the release of missing person and asked the Pakistani govt to end the military operation in Balochistan. Several BNP (M) leaders spoke at the gatherings they said that Zardari govt was not sincere to address the grievances of Baloch people. They said that the development packages announced by Zardari were not enough for Balochistan.BNP and BSO (M) activists demanded the the immediat release of Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch, Sher Mohammad Baloch, Kabeer Baloch, Attaullah Baloch, Mushtaq Baluch, Qadir Qalandrani Baloch and other thousands of named and unammed Baloch who are being tortured in secret cell of Pakistani agencies. They also demand an end to military operation in Balochistan.
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