Jan. 12, 2010 | Also see statement by Asian Human Rights Commission | Nov. 24, 2010 |
Asian Human Rights Commission: Extrajudicial killings rapidly increase in Balochistan

By Mehran Baluch, Baloch representative in the United Nations Human Rights Council

Honorable members of European parliament:

I would like to begin by saying I'm very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to express the concerns of a nation which has been illegally occupied by a neighboring and hostile nation called Pakistan.

The European Union is a glaring example of how economic social and human civilization has come to the conclusion that being together is better than being apart, but unfortunately the uncivilized, religious fundamentalist and deceiving nation of Pakistan believes in the idea that conquer and pillage is the better option rather than cooperation.

The Pakistani army is using the most advanced military tactics to ensure the suppression and enslavement of the Baluch nation. As an example, they have proposed building three military cantonments in Baluchistan at three crucial and strategically-important locations: first in Kohlu, the oil rich region of the Marri tribal agency. Secondly, in the rich natural gas region of Sui, which at present is fulfilling half of the natural gas needs of Pakistan. Finally the proposition to build an army cantonment in Gawader which is of the utmost strategic importance in the 21st century. Gawader is on the straits of Hurmoz, where 40% of the world's oil passes from the Middle East to the western hemisphere.

Pakistan claims to be a constitutional democracy, but its nether a democracy nor does it have a valid constitution. Since its inception, the army has run Pakistan, directly or indirectly. They have repeatedly nullified the so-called constitution of Pakistan at their will and have even dismissed governments and executed their prime ministers.

Bangladesh freed itself from the clutches of the so-called Pakistani constitution because this constitution is made by Pakistan for the benefit of Punjab. Bangladesh could not tolerate the Pakistani constitution although it was a legitimate part of Pakistan. How can we, the Baloch, be expected to accept the Pakistani constitution and hope that it will safeguard our rights whereas we are an occupied territory of Pakistan with no legal or national bonds with Punjabi Pakistan. An explicit example of Pakistan's double standards about its democracy is that a non-Muslim cannot be the head of the state.

Pakistan has repeatedly tried to make Afghanistan and Kashmir its fifth and sixth provinces. In order to fulfill this dream it has resorted to state-sponsored terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism in the region.

Bangladesh was also considered a province until 1971 by the expansionist Punjabi Pakistan until Punjab's army refused to recognize the overwhelming mandate the Bengalis received in the general elections. But after the successful struggle of the Bengali's in which millions of Bengalis were killed by Pakistan in order to maintain its hegemony over Bangladesh as a province, the Bengalis defeated the Pakistani army and liberated themselves. Today they stand in the international community as a free and independent nation.

After the shock and loss of Bangladesh, Pakistan has assumed a far more aggressive colonial approach in the region with its neighbors, including Balochistan.

Balochistan was forcefully annexed to Pakistan on 27 March 1948. Since 1948, and after the illegal occupation of Balochistan by the Pakistani army, the Baloch people have been gifted with five military operations resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and thousands still missing.

The latest military operation, which started in the year 2000 and intensified in March 2005, is one of the most offensive and brutal. Thousands of innocent Baloch women and children have been killed in these operations. Over 150,000 Baloch have been forced to flee their hometowns and are living in different IDP camps in Punjab, Sind and neighboring Afghanistan.

Since deceitfully acquiring nuclear weapon in 1998 and carrying out the first nuclear test in Chaghi hills of Balochistan, Pakistan with its Islamic bomb has become a threat not only to its neighbors but to the world at large. The world powers are being blackmailed into accepting Pakistan wrongdoings despite the facts that Pakistan is the biggest promoter of terrorism and a safe heaven for international terrorists. The NATO alliance knows this fact better than anyone else.

One of the most gruesome violations of human rights in Balochistan is forced-disappearances. Currently more then 7,000 Baloch youth and elderly are missing. Their family members and relatives are not aware of their whereabouts and condition. No lawyers have access to them and they have not been produced in any court of law. Abduction of Baloch students, journalists, lawyers, teachers, and political activists are carried out on a daily basis by Pakistani security agencies. The situation in Balochistan for the Baloch is alarming.

I would like to draw your attention to the cold blooded murders of Baloch political leaders and activists by the Pakistani Military in recent months.

The notorious Military of Pakistan continues its atrocities in Balochistan. In the past four months alone about 50 bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch missing persons have been found in different areas of Balochistan. Even nine bullet-riddled bodies were found in various parts of Balochistan during the three days of Eid (the Muslim festival).

"Some of the abductions and killings are definitely carried out by security agencies," Mr. Raisani told the BBC in a recent exclusive interview in Islamabad. Mr. Raisani, an influential tribal leader, is a member of the country's ruling Pakistan People's Party and the chief Minster of Balochistan.

Human rights campaigners have said they were astounded by the chief minister's candor. Ali Dayan Hasan of Human Rights Watch, told the BBC: "The chief minister's casual acceptance that the military is disappearing and possibly killing Baloch citizens is preposterous and appalling."

A recent statement issued by Asian Human Rights Commission notes that during recent weeks in Balochistan the mutilated bodies of 25 people, who had earlier been abducted by persons in plain clothes, have been found. The deceased person's family members claim that these people were abducted by personnel of the Frontier Corp (FC) and intelligence agencies, namely ISI and MI. Some of them were arrested in the presence of the police, but despite this fact, in all cases the police refused to lodge the First Information Report (FIR) because of state intelligence agencies involvement.

On October 25, 2010, Amnesty International issued a report and urged the Pakistan government to investigate the murder and torture of Baloch activists.

It is rhetorical to even suggest that Pakistan abides by a constitution when it has blatantly violated oaths upon the Holy Quran. The Baloch leader Nawab Nauroz Khan was incarcerated and his followers were executed after the Pakistan army announced by sworn oath on the Holy Book not to harm them.

"Baloch political leaders and activists are clearly being targeted and the government must do much more to end this alarming trend said Amnesty International. Pakistan is continuously committing economic social and cultural genocide in Balochistan and the international community continues to ignore the plight of the Baloch people.

I appeal to the Europan Parliament to Intervene and play its due role for justice in Balochistan, as well as condemn the illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan.

Mehran Baluch is the Baloch representative in the United Nations Human Rights Council.