Report of Demonstration at Capitol Hill Against killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti
[Press release courtesy of the World Sindhi Institute, Date : September 9, 2006]

Washington, DC; On September 08, 2006, scores of tourists and Washingtonians witnessed a display of unity, enthusiasm and organization at the Capitol Hill. The World Sindhi Institute in Washington, DC organized a peaceful demonstration in coordination with organizations/individuals dedicated for the cause of human rights and democracy based in DC and other parts of the U.S. The objective of this historical rally was to condemn the brutal military operation in Balochistan, whereby bombardment during a military attack resulted in assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti, along with some family and party members. He was a vocal and determined Baloch nationalist leader, Head of ‘Jamhoori Watan Party’ and former elected Chief Minister and Governor of Balochistan.

Participants of the rally included men, women and few children. Many clad in typical traditional Sindhi scarves - ‘Ajrak’ and some ladies wearing Balochi embroidered out fits visually portrayed that the group had assembled for the cause of Balochistan and Sindh. There were representatives of some non-profit organizations as well as business and political persons from Sindh and Balochistan. Some people from other parts of Pakistan as well as a few Baloch from Iran were also present. Their passion and enthusiasm was by far the most interesting aspect of the rally, which drew the attention of on-lookers, passers-by and media equally. Press and media, both local and international took keen interest in taking photographs of the colorful posters, interviewing individual participants and covering the whole event for newspapers, television and radio.

Participants held visually illustrative banners & posters, and chanted slogans amidst traffic flow, passing pedestrians and spectators on the main Independence Avenue. The slogans were loud, zealous and contained messages against military rule and oppression in Pakistan, military operation in Balochistan, killing of Nawab Bugti, demands for peace and democracy in Sindh & Balochistan and appeal to International Community to stop supporting military dictatorship in Pakistan. Slogans such as Stop Military Operation in Balochistan, Down with Military Rule and Down with Musharraf caught the attention of even those driving on the street. The eye-catching banners compared Musharraf with Saddam and Usama. A little Baloch girl from Iran held a banner showing extremely poor Baloch kids, captioned, "I have a dream..!"

The World Sindhi Institute sent formal Memorandum to Honorable Henry J. Hyde, Chairman International Relations Committee of U.S. Congress and Honorable Richard G. Lugar, Chairman Foreign Relations Committee of U.S. Senate.

Congressman Tom Tancredo sent a message through his staff to encourage the rally by expressing that, "I oppose authoritarian regimes, wherever they might be. I am gravely concerned about the persecution of political dissidents in Pakistan I am even more troubled that this administration has not brought sufficient pressure to bear on the government there to stop these practices." He further wrote, "It is true that the United States needs Pakistan’s cooperation in the war against terrorism - but that does not mean we should stand by and condone the government of Pakistan’s campaign to intimidate or kill opposition leaders like Nawab Akbar Bugti - who was at one time democratically elected and still dedicated to free and fair elections." He also expressed that, "I believe that your fight for democracy and equality in a region rocked by turmoil and terrorism is a just one." His message concluded by these words, "I wish you luck in your cause and assure you that as a staunch supporter of human rights and democracy, I will continue to do what I can to assist you."

Some participants delivered speeches over megaphone to convey the following :

Mr. Malik Toghi, Chairman of ‘Baloch Human Rights International’, a non-profit organization from Michigan State expressed concern over the present situation where America is supporting the military regime in Pakistan by providing them with all required weapons, arms and highly sensitive intelligence equipments, but does not stop them from using these weapons against their own elected and tribal leaders, instead of capturing the Alqaeda leadership, which was the actual purpose of these equipments. On the other hand, General Pervez Musharraf, the military dictator of Pakistan, is cheating the U.S. administration by pretending to look for terrorists and obtaining huge sums of money and perks instead. "The basic issue", he said, "is a dilemma of American Foreign Policy. By losing focus from the primary commitment to stabilize Afghanistan, there have been better grounds available for Alqaeda to grow stronger. They enjoy discreet protection and support from Pakistani Military and M.Q.M. (Mutaheda Qaumi Mahaz) political party in Pakistan. All the nationalist parties and two major political parties are all united now against this alliance, which the U.S. should be aware of. It is in the national interest of the U.S. to stop supporting military regime in Pakistan".

Dr. Wahid Baloch, Chairman Balochistan Society Of North America (BSO-NA) came from Florida for the rally. In his speech he condemned the shameful act of Pakistani State Terrorism and appealed to the international community to investigate the cases of Pakistani crimes against Baloch people. These targeted crimes have been going on Baloch of both sides of border by the governments of two religious fundamentalist states - Iran and Pakistan. In last one year only, thousands of Baloch have died, thousands are behind bars and numerous rae forced to evacuate out of home in harsh conditions of that rugged terrain. "Balochistan has been turned into a ‘mega-prison’ and the Baloch Nation calls for international intervention", he said.

Dr. Amjad Riar of Pakistan Peoples Party, Washington DC expressed that the killing of Chief of Jamhoori Watan Party, Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti at the hands of the law enforcing agencies is a blow to the unity and integrity of the Federation. His killing would further alienate the people of Balochistan from the Center. Today Pakistan faces a crisis of governance, with a politicized military, an undermined judiciary. Army intervention in Pakistan’s politics has created the unfortunate situation where Pakistan’s army is responsible for killing more Pakistanis blaming them as enemies, than it has eliminated foreign troops during wars.

On behalf of Pakistan Peoples Party, he then called for a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry into the operation which culminated in the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, restoration of the Constitution as it existed before the 1999 military coup, release of protestors expressing grief over the incident, handing over of the dead body of Nawab Akbar Bugti to his family for burial in accordance with their traditions, an end to military operations in Balochistan, a political solution to the alienation of the Baloch people in particular and people of Pakistan in general and fair elections, political process and return of military back to the barracks. He ended by saying, "The consequences of Nawab Bugti`s assassination are likely to be monumental. Pakistan is in calamitous need of Democracy and political process today then ever before".

Dr. Tara Chand, Central Secretary General of ‘Baloch International League for Peace and Freedom' and former Provincial Minister of Balochistan had come from Florida to participate in the demonstration. After condemning the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti and thousands of other Baloch people by Pakistan military, he stressed on the basic issue of the attitude of Federal Government, which conveys to the Baloch people through acts and words that they do not have a right to demand any thing for themselves. Thus a feeling is developed among them that Pakistan is not their own country. Now, after this unfortunate incidence, he said, "We definitely know that Pakistan is really no more our country. We will struggle for our rights and the freedom of our mother land. We also ask the rest of the world to raise their voice with us for our right to self determination."

Mr. Mohammad Ali Baloch from Philadelphia represented the World Baloch Jewish Alliance and Pakistan People s Party. He gave an account of similar military operations carried out in Balochistan in past. He called it a part of the same series of operations that the Pakistan military has performed repeatedly in 1948, 1966 to 67, 1973 to 77, and again in the last few year to date. Although in 1947, Balochistan, volunteered to be with Pakistan then why are the Baloch people always being threatened and tortured through military operations? In the end he appealed to the U.S. and the world community to intervene and help in ending these series of military operations in Balochistan.

Mr. Walter Lendry, Chairman ‘Think-tank for National Self-determination, Inc.’ (TNS) urged the U.S. Government to support through acts and speeches, the right to self determination for all people in the world, including the Baloch and Sindhi. He gave a background of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the U.S. ratified in 1992. He tried to enunciate the principle that after ratifying the covenant, it is an obligation of the U.S. Government to have a foreign relations policy based on supporting self determination of all. This incidence of a Baloch leader’s murder should compel USA to make sure that support to Pakistan Government in form of arms is not directed towards her own people, who are struggling for a just cause and a right that is legally and morally acknowledged by all signatories of the United Nations Covenant on Right to Self Determination.

Mr. Waheed Baloch, Chairman of ‘Baloch International League for Peace and Freedom’ and former Speaker of Balochistan Provincial Assembly spoke about the nature of the Baloch struggle against attempts of Pakistan Military to forcefully curb their identity, their national spirit and control their resources for building the country without due compensation. This mal treatment and the repeated incidences of military operations in the province has resulted in an absolute loss of trust on Pakistan government. Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s assassination, according to him is a part of the same series of killings, where by most Baloch leaders have been either killed or have disappeared.

Ms. Tasleem Mazhar from Hyderabad, Sindh assured the participants of support on behalf of all Sindhi people, as she said the Baloch and Sindhi cause are not much different from each other. We have to unite against the atrocities and struggle against any and every military regime in Pakistan, because this is absolutely against the principles of Democracy, which we aspire for our region.

Mrs. Razia Rabb, Chairperson Women’s Wing, Jamhoori Watan Party also sent a message in absentia to the Demonstrators, in which she said, "Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti's death is such a huge loss for the whole region that we can not acknowledge its magnitude now. Only 'time' will tell how much we have lost and how much we all will lose by not having Nawab Bugti's brave & strong support at our back. It is after years that the world will realize who was 'good' and who was 'evil' in this war between Pakistan Military and the Baloch people".

Mr. Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of World Sindhi Institute thanked all the participants for their heart-felt support and expressed a sense of unity with all marginalized and oppressed groups of Pakistan who have to face atrocities and human rights violations, including torture, disappearances and killings on daily basis at the hands of a military dictatorship. He urged all oppressed Baloch, Sindhi, Saraiki, Pashtun, and Punjabi people not to lose nerves and hopes in their just and legal demand for peace and democracy in Pakistan.