APC demands resolution of Balochistan issues, US appears split over Balochistan

KARACHI: Karachi-based leaders of various political parties have demanded at an All Parties Conference (APC) on Wednesday that Baloch tribal chiefs should not punish the entire country for mistakes made by the incompetent military and civilian bureaucracy. ‘The APC requests the Baloch tribal chiefs to join hands with patriot political parties and people of Pakistan to sort out their problems and to remove their sense of deprivation,’ read a resolution. Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chapter hosted the APC on ‘Balochistan Operation and Conspiracies’ and it was addressed by JI Deputy Chief Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, PML-N member and lawyer Mir Nawaz Khan Marwat, JUP leader Siddique Rathore, National People’s Party leader Zia Abbas, NWP leader Yousuf Masti Khan, National Party leader Yousuf Buledi, PDP’s Basharat Mirza, Pakistan Islami Tehrik’s Allama Nazir Abbas Taqvi, JI Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, Sunni Teheek leader Aftab Qadri and Waqas Baloch son of Sher Mohammad Baloch. The APC rejected Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement that Sher Mohammad Baloch was an Iranian citizen and termed it a cruel joke with the nation. It demanded that a judicial probe be conducted about the murders of Akbar Bugti, Sher Mohammad Baloch, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch and Lala Muneer. The JI-sponsored APC also demanded capital punishment for those involved in the murder of Bugti and other Baloch leaders. The APC demanded that natural resources of Balochistan not be given under multinational companies’ control. The colonialist approach towards Balochistan should end, urged the APC. It demanded an end to the military operation and the withdrawal of unnecessary deployment in Balochistan, along with the rehabilitation of the people of Kohlu and Dera Bugti. Demanding the release and recovery of detained missing persons of Balochistan, the APC demanded employment opportunities and infrastructure development in the province. The replacement of the present authority with the Gawadar Port Trust was also proposed. On one hand, the APC made an appeal to the Baloch tribal chiefs and on the other, the APC also demanded of the government to abrogate the concurrent list in the constitution and grant due rights to all the provinces under the Constitution of Pakistan. The APC resolution stated that the concurrent list was applicable for 10 years. “Provincial autonomy is every province’s right and all the provinces should be given the power to exercise their rights,” said JI Deputy Chief and former senior legislator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed. He said that the entire country is with the Baloch compatriots and warned that the country’s integrity would be at stake if the issue of Balochistan is not resolved. “Injustice with Baloch Pakistanis will be considered injustice with us. They are loyal citizens of Pakistan like the rest of us,” he said. Ahmed said that the Baloch were denied their due rights. irfan alihttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\30\story_30-4-2009_pg7_20

Families of missing Baloch still waite for thier loved ones

Where is my brother Mohammad Iqbal Baloch? sister's pleaBalochistan: We live in a world where powerful countries suppress weaker nations and occupy their countries and make the inhabitants their slaves using different means and ways of slavery. Those powerful countries’ secret services have always played an important role in keeping other smaller nation as slaves. When baloch struggle for independence intensified in early 2000 this didn’t please the agencies (ISI, MI) of the so called Islamic republic of Pakistan. From 2000-2008 they have abducted almost 8000 innocent Baloch youth including women from all spheres of life. Iqbal Baloch who hails from Mand Balochistan has also become prey of the Pakistani agencies. 27 years old Iqbal Baloch is a BA student and used to work in a PCO (Public Call Office) in his free time.On 14th August 2007, my brother Iqbal Baloch set off from home with some of his friend for a picnic to famous picnic point between Thump and Mand area called “Ziarat Kalig”. He has never returned home since 14th August 2007. Those days Pakistani occupying force were carrying out a military offensive in that Kalig and surrounding area against innocent Baloch people. The Pakistani army had arrested seventeen innocent Baloch in that operation and my brother Iqbal Baloch and three of his friends were also among them. As I have mentioned earlier that the Pakistani terrorist forces have arrested seventeen Baloch altogether. On 16th February 2008, the three friends of my brother have been released after sever torture and humiliation but my brother Iqbal Baloch is still missing.We have no news of his whereabouts. We also don’t know whether he is still alive or he has been killed by these savage agencies of Pakistan. We have set on token hunger strike in front of press clubs with other Baloch families who’s loved one were missing. We have recorded our protest in all democratic and peaceful means but nothing happened in other word “all in vain”. Even though we have ended our protests after a provincial minister has assured us that my brother Iqbal Baloch and other families’ loved ones will be released or produced to a court within six days, but nothing happened afterward. It seems the provincial minister has power infect the whole Balochistan cabinet is helpless before these notorious agencies (ISI and MI).My brother Iqbal Baloch and other thousands of Baloch are in the custody of Pakistani agencies, who have been in control of this unnatural state of Pakistan from last 62 years. Today Baloch mothers, sister, and other relatives are forced to go out in streets to protest against the illegal abduction of their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers. After my brother’s forced-disappearance my aged mother’s health is deteriorating day by day. She lost her eye sight due to everyday crying for her son. I and my parants are still waiting for Iqbal Baloch to returen home. We don’t know whether he has been killed nor is he still alive? My brother and other thousands of Baloch youths' only fault is that they are Baloch and they were born in Balochistan. I on behalf of all Baloch families appeal to the international community, UN, US, UK and the EU to take notice of the atrocities of Pakistani army and agencies in Balochistan. Please help us put a stop on forced-disappearance in Balochistan. Where is Kabeer Baloch and Attaullah Baloch ; FamiliesThe family members of Kabeer Baloch and Attaullah Baloch, who were abducted on 27 March 2009, have appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan to take “Sue Moto” action to make sure the return of their loved ones. They said that there dear ones are missing and we don’t know about their whereabouts. We do not even know whether they are still alive or they have been killed in custody like many other Baloch youth. said that chief justice should take action on such inhumane acts of the intelligence agencies of Pakistan. Talking to media they stated that state brutalities are at peak, no one is sage any longer from these state mercenaries. Government is continuing the massacre of Baloch people. Security forces and secret services agencies are violating the law. Innocent youth are being arrested extra-judicially on daily bases. They are kept in state sponsored dungeons and they are subjected to severe torture. Their lives are in danger but the courts seem to be helpless before these notorious agencies i.e. ISI and MI. Baloch people have lost faith on the Pakistani justice system and they are now openly demanding for Independence. When the entire department are helpless and have no power to stop the brutal state sponsored agencies then people chose their own ways to protect themselves.Our father should be released on humanitarian grounds: Sher Baz BugtiQuetta: Sherbaz Bugti, Safaraz Bugti and Mumtaz Bugti have said in a joint press release that their father Noor Mohammad Bugti has been abducted the agencies (ISI) from his office in 2008. He has not returned home since his sudden abduction. We do not know where is he kept and whether he is alive or not? They said we are worried because of his absence. Our father was government employer; he has no affiliation with any political party or any organisation. We wait for him day and night hoping that some day he will return home give us his loves and kindness. He is being punished for crimes he did not commit. Being a Baloch or a Bugti is not a crime. They said we appeal to higher courts that if there are any cases against our father then he should be produced to the court of law and he should have right to a public trail. In the end they appealed once again that their father should be released on humanitarian grounds.

1 FC soldier killed, 5 hurt in Dera Bugti blast

QUETTA: At least five militants and an FC soldier were killed on Saturday in an alleged armed clash and a landmine explosion in Dera Bugti area. The spokesman for the Baloch Republican Army, Sirbaz Baloch, claimed that five militants had been killed while security forces lost 19 men. He said 25 others were injured in clashes and the landmine blast.
Officials, however, said that no armed clash took place between security forces and militants in the area. They said that six soldiers were injured, two of them seriously, in a landmine explosion in the Marvi area. ‘An FC vehicle was blown up in the landmine blast,’ officials said.
According to reports reaching here, Hawaldar Mohammad Arif who was injured in the blast died of his injuries late in the evening. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Baloch Republican Army said: ‘We have destroyed three vehicles of security forces and damaged a helicopter.’
He identified the militants who were killed in the clash as Saifuddin Bugti, Ali Nawaz Bugti, Razi Bugti, Mosam Bugti and Mehmood. He said the clash took place when security forces were carrying out a search operation in the Marvi area after the landmine explosion.

Is India too a concern for US Af-Pak envoy?

WASHINGTON: A top US general said on Friday that the Obama administration’s Af-Pak Special Representative Richard Holbrooke’s portfolio ''very much'' included India, but the man concerned himself said no it wasn’t. The confusion arose when Gen.David Petraeus, chief of the US Central Command, told a Congressional hearing that the US has been trying to impress upon Pakistan that India is not their real threat and in this context, ''There are people who have rightly said that Ambassador Holbrooke's title should be Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.''''...let me just tell you, his (Holbrooke's) portfolio very much includes India and in fact, the Central Asian states and the other neighbours there,'' Petraeus told a Congressional committee at another point, suggesting that the Af-Pak imbroglio broadly concerned the whole region and Holbrooke’s engagements would include talks with other players with interest in the region.
The subject of Holbrooke’s portfolio is considered sensitive because Pakistan has linked its policy to its dispute with India on Kashmir and also India’s presence in Afghanistan. Islamabad wants the Holbrooke portfolio to include India (and the Kashmir issue), but New Delhi has rejected the linkage because of its insistence on resolving the issue bilaterally.
Pakistan has also accused the ''Indian lobby'' of using its ''clout'' to have India excluded from Holbrooke’s portfolio and have it restricted to what has become known as ''Af-Pak.'' In fact, Pakistan resents the term Af-Pak and having itself hyphenated with Afghanistan.
But in a separate interview to a Pakistani television channel, Holbrooke himself declined to answer a question on the Kashmir issue and said his mandate was restricted to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In a broader context, he told GEO TV that ''If we are interested in helping Pakistan, we will have to talk to its neighbours, which include China, India and Afghanistan,'' suggesting that Petraeus remarks was meant in the broader context.
Holbrooke has been consulting frequently with New Delhi about the Af-Pak situation, primarily with the intent of ensuring that there is no flare-up between India and Pakistan. These exchanges have been low key in keeping with Indian sensitivities.
In fact, in the Geo TV interview, Holbrooke also disabused the Pakistanis of their recent refrain that India was supporting the growing separatist insurgency in the country’s Balochistan province, saying there was no evidence to support the charge.
''If the Indians were supporting those miscreants in Pakistan that would be extraordinarily bad, really dangerous, but they are not doing so. There is no evidence that Indians are support miscreants in western parts of Pakistan or in Balochistan,'' he said.
Addressing Pakistani fears about the Indian role in Afghanistan, Holbrooke said India had given about $1 billion assistance to Afghanistan, but it should not be a cause of concern for Pakistan.
''Pakistan does not need to worry about India in Afghanistan, but it has to be worried about miscreants and militants in its western parts,'' he said, according to reports in the Pakistani media.