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Human Rights Situation In Baluchistan

61st Session of the Commission on Human Rights (17 Jan. and 14 March-22 April 2005)
Agenda Item 14: Specific Groups And Individuals (b) minorities

Speaker: Mehran Baluch

Mr. Chairman,

The idea of crcating Pakistani nation way based on the similarities of religious faith anion<_ , the dil - fCrLnI nationalities of the northern India and there were no hints in the policy speeches of' the Muslim League leaders of that time of any hegemony of a nationality on another. But since the creation Pakistan it became clear that the God given country is more or less an extension of Punjabi domination over other nationalities in all sphere of life. Pakistani Stag has been gradually conceived by the dominated nationalities as the symbol of exploitation of one nationality over the other. And b y the passage of time Pakistani nation has been proclaimed by minority nationalities to be an 'artificial national identity.'

The forceful annexation of Balochistan into Pakistan in 1948 and continued violation of human rights and absence of basic human dignity as well as the forced assimilation and inte~~ration programmes implemented by the Punjabi establishment has reached a crucial point where the Baluch existence is under threat.

The unabated loot and plunder of Baluch wealth and the exploitation of the people of Balochistan has left them with no option but to rid themselves from the Punjabi domination in order to safe guard their existence and also to have any chance in future for prosperity and development. The Punjabi establishment of Pakistan should have no objection to such rightful aspirations of the Baluch people because the Punjabis themselves advocate similar solutions for Palestine , Kashmir and Chechenya and implemented such measures for itself i.e. partition of India in 1947.

Mr. Chairman,

The Baluch masses finely believe that the Baluch identity is more at peel now than ever before. Economically their land is rich while they have been kept poor by the State due to the plunder of their wealth for the exclusive benefit of only one province, the hegemonic province of Punjab . Politically the Baluch believe that their secular democratic mindset is not compatible with religious fundamentalism and dictatorial behavior of Pakistan 's ruling elite.

Mr. Chairman,

When national minorities perceive their collective identity to be under threat they articulate escalating demands for minority rights, regional autonomy and eventual secession. The State establishment and the ruling elite have engaged in a variety of policies regarding Baluch demand of cultural and political identity. Massive military crackdowns have been waged against the Baluch people in 1948, 1958, 1973 and the present military operation in Marri, Bugti and other areas is the latest in the series. Subjugation tactics by the use or armed violence, State terror (or State terrorism.) against Baluch, such as with the use of torture, selective killing of Baluch elite by fomenting intertribal and intra-trabal conflicts by various State agencies especially the notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). A State of siege has been imposed on Balochistan through police, paramilitary, coast guards and by the regular army repression.

Electing or selecting government functionaries have imposed an indirect or internal colonial rule by manipulating and under hand tactics of government agencies. Keeping Balochistan intentionally backward while ruthlessly exploiting its natural resources for the benefit of majority nationality. Pakistan is encouraging fundamentalist religious elements who are allied with the State establishment and are funded and patronized by it to take over in the long run, the very fabric of a secular Baluch society.

Pakistan has fooled the world withh its hypocrisy and duplicity, on one hand it is USA 's essential ally in its 'War on Terrorism' while on the other hand, it is one of terrorism's essential incubators in the war against the West.

A few examples of recent atrocities committed by the Pakistani paramilitary and military forces in Balochistan are as follows:

- Last month, Pakistan Army bombarded the residence of Nawab Akbar Khan Bug - ti, a prominent Baluch leader, because the Punjabi elite wanted to eliminate him in order to loot and exploit the resources from the Buoi area without any obstruction.

- Captain Immad, of Pakistan Army on duty, raped Dr. Shazia Khalid, a lady doctor in Sui, Balochistan, earlier this year and has not vet been arrested despite countrywide protest for his arrest.

- A 14 years old and a 16 year old girl were abducted in Dalbandin, who were among many protestors, in a local "Intifada" protesting against army garrisons and paramilitary camps next to their homes. They were later raped and dumped at a roadside the next day.

- Numerous members of the Baluch Student Organization (BSO) and Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakistan 's oppressed nations movement (PONM) have been abducted, subjected to brutal torture, kept in detention without trial and often killed extra judicially.

- On 24"' of last month, federal agents abducted five leaders of BSO in Karachi and their whereabouts are not yet known.

- Earlier this year, the army had launched a campaign of continuous abductions from the Marri Setttlement known as new Kahan in Quetta

We therefore, urge this august body to send special fact finding mission to Balochistan to investigate the ongoing gross human rights violations.

Thank you Mr. Chairman