Tag Archives: missing persons

Human Rights, Life, Politics, Sindh

The Planned Disappearance

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Following is a poetic response to ASIA: Wounds in the souls of the members of disappeared people’s families can never be cured, which appeared yesterday (September 26, 2014)

by John Joseph Clancey

Will there be another tomorrow?
Or, just another wife’s sorrow,
caused by her husband’s disappearance?

Will I hear my new-born baby’s cry?
Or, will she hear her mother’s sobbing sigh,
wondering about her husband’s disappearance?

Will I be sitting with my father in the Church pews?
Or, will he be constantly waiting for news,
since the first day of his son’s disappearance?

Will tomorrow be another worry-filled day?
Or, perhaps bring a much more creative way,
to avoid the inevitable disappearance?

So many have just gone, without a trace.
Does anyone know the precise time or exact place,
of their ultimate disappearance?

Can I ensure another tomorrow?
And prevent some further sorrow,

by disappearing before the planned disappearance?

For Basil Fernando,

who, in 1989, faced the dilemma: to disappear or be disappeared.

Courtesy: ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

News, Pakistan, Sindh, Sindhi

Three Sindhi nationalists were killed on Independence Day in police encounter – many young people remain missing after arrest

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Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-112-2013 – The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on the 66 celebration of the Independence Day of Pakistan, three more Sindh nationalists were gunned downed in a fake encounter in Karachi and many young Sindhi activists were arrested from different districts of Sindh province and their whereabouts are unknown.

Read more » ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

PAKISTAN: Three Sindhi nationalists were killed on Independence Day in a fake police encounter – many young people remain missing after arrest

News, Pakistan, Politics, Sindh, Sindhi

Sindh Demands Freedom

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Comment by Aziz Narejo

Sindh Demands Freedom: JSQM, other nationalist organizations to hold a major rally in Karachi tomorrow on 23rd March to demand freedom for Sindh. Police, rangers, other state agencies have sprung into action to sabotage the rally. They have raided & arrested several activists. They shot to death & then burned two JSQM leaders yesterday.

Today police & rangers have surrounded the University of Sindh & opened fire on students gathering to join the rally. They are trying to block other rallies/groups of people from joining the main rally.

Such highhandedness must be strongly condemned.

Courtesy: via Facebook

Balochistan, Human Rights, Pakistan, Politics

A Blatant Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing – By Shawn Forbes

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Mass abductions, torture and executions, target killing of Baloch have become daily routine in Balochistan, Where the state forces are alleged for conducting brutal and endless campaign of violence against the indigenous people of Balochistan.

Read more » http://thebalochistanpoint.com/a-blatant-campaign-of-ethnic-cleansing/

Balochistan, Human Rights, Politics, Sindh, Sindhi

Sindhis Welcome Their Valiant Baloch Brothers ‘n Sisters in Sindh

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By Dr. Ahmed Makhdoom

… Indeed, onward they marched from their beloved Motherland, Balochistan, to the Sacred ‘n Sanctified, hallowed and noble Land of Sindh! And, they marched on foot – men, women and children – some even without shoes or slippers! They marched in a glorious Caravan – the 25 families of missing sons of Balochisatn and finally reached Karachi, the worthy Capital of Sindh, on Friday 22nd November, 2013, covering 780 kilometres of an inhospitable landscape of Balochistan and Sindh!

This march of the Balochs for the Freedom and safe return home of their sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and even grandfathers, who had gone missing since their abduction by the barbarians Forces and venomous Intelligence Services will go down in the annals of bravado, courage and determination in the History of Mankind!

These families spent cold and freezing nights on roadsides shivering and just getting warmth from each other’s hugs and embraces. They spent days striding forward and carrying on – onward, forward and ahead through the : the journey, it seems, only hardened their commitment to remain steadfast in their cause.

These valiant and verdant Baloch families have pitched their tents in Karachi. However, their struggle for justice and peaceful protests against tyranny, terror and torment, is far from over. It will continue peacefully, according to the families spokesman, “until their beloved sons, fathers, brothers and grandfathers return.”

The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) long march reached Karachi from Quetta on Friday 22nd November, 2013, after walking for 27 days. VBMP Long March culminates in Karachi, the struggle against abductions to continue: Qadeer Baloch. Read more here:

Brave Baloch families reached the Karachi Press Club, exhausted! Their shared with Press and all Sindhis who welcomed them the macabre tales of intimidation, threats and violence of the Intelligence Agencies. Families all are full of zeal, confidence and commitment to continuing their resistance against the repression.

Those who watched a Balochi language private TV channel saw a huge mass of around 20,000 people from 25 Baloch families participating in the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons protest rally in Karachi on Friday. Apart from Baloch activists, it is indeed, very heartening and inspiring to know, that a large number of Sindhi and other human rights and political activists also came to support the Baloch in their hour of pain and suffering.

750 kms March of missing Baloch’s kin ends at Karachi, Sindh. Verdant and veritable sons and daughters of Mother Sindh welcomed their brave Baloch brothers and sisters with great honour and dignity and presented gifts to the families with traditional honour of Sindhi Ajrak and Topee (cap) and showered them with flowers and garlands.

We raise our voice to condemn the barbaric behaviour of the agencies by continually abducting the innocent, peace-loving and simple sons of Balochistan! We appeal, plead and urge the United Nations, International and Asian Human Rights Organisations, the Super Power Nations of the World and the International Courts of Justice to please take note and Save Baloch people, Save Balochistan and STOP genocide being perpetrated by the savages of the failed state!

Sindh has always been a hospitable, welcoming and gracious Nation! The valiant, veritable and verdant sons and daughters of grand, great and glorious Mother Sindh must open their arms, hearts and souls to welcome these tortured, troubled and tormented Baloch families who are now camped in Karachi! Sindhi MUST provide sustenance, shelter, clothing and ALL the Support, Help and Assistance that they need.

Balochistan, we Love you! Long Live Balochistan! Long Live Sindh!

Courtesy: via Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, and facebook, 24th November, 2013.

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For more details » BBC urdu
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2013/11/131124_baat_se_baat_rh.shtml

Balochistan, News, Pakistan, Politics, Sindh, Sindhi

Sindhis welcome & express solidarity with Baloch brethren as they enter the borders of Sindh at the end of their historic long march from Quetta to Karachi.

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By: Via Facebook

Sindhis welcome & express solidarity with Baloch brethren as they enter the borders of Sindh at the end of their historic long march from Quetta to Karachi. The long march is against the enforced disappearances of the Baloch people. The world must take notice of this highhanded-ness at the hands of  govt/forces/agencies. The atrocities against the Baloch must end.

Read more » A no ordinary long march »» by Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Balochistan, Human Rights, Islamabad, Pakistan, Politics

A no ordinary long march

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by Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

This isn’t an ordinary march because it is the expression of the pain and sufferings of the families of the many thousands missing and of 700 plus who have been victims of death squads and who suffer in silence

A protest long march organized by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, or (VBMP), and led by Mama Qadir Reki, vice chairman of VBMP, with as many as 20 families, including women and children, carrying placards, photographs of missing persons and banners inscribed with slogans in support of their demands started their journey from Quetta Press Club on Sunday 27th; it will culminate with a sit-in at Karachi Press Club.

Many relatives even fear protesting in fear of further retribution. This isn’t a march to secure justice because the relatives of missing and dead had sought all avenues but were let down by all including the Supreme Court (SC) which has been long on rhetoric and miserably short on action. This 700 plus kilometer journey which the relatives of the missing and dead have undertaken is to highlight the injustices to Baloch people. The agencies, the army and Frontier Corps (FC) naturally couldn’t be expected to provide justice because even the most partial SC reluctantly admits that these are responsible for the missing and the mutilated dead. The civil society is expected to stand up for human rights violation but their enthusiasm regarding missing Baloch persons is quite uninspiring.

Read more » ViewPointOnline
http://www.viewpointonline.net/a-no-ordinary-long-march.html

Balochistan, Human Rights, International, Islamabad, Life, News, Pakistan, Politics

PAKISTAN: Disappearances and extrajudicial killings continue unabated in Balochistan — the civilian governments remain callously indifferent

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By: Asian Human Rights Commission

During the first four months of the year 2013 no restraint was observed on the part of the military in their actions. Abductions by unknown persons, disappearances and extrajudicial killings continue unabated in the war torn zone of Balochistan province. During the months from January to April, according to the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organisation that compiles records of missing persons and extrajudicial killings, 244 persons were abducted, 11 recovered, 34 extrajudicially killed and 26 died during military operations in different parts of the province.

According to the Pakistan Medical Association, Balochistan Chapter, 32 doctors are missing and 28 doctors have so far been killed. In addition dozens of lawyers are missing and many have been extrajudicial killed after abduction. Besides this, generally there is no rule of law and any person can be picked up and killed for any reason.

However, a new situation has arisen in the policies of the law enforcement agencies in that they have extended their jurisdictions to other provinces. Today Boloch citizens are being abducted from Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, where they go for higher education.

Read more » Asian Human Rights Commission
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-110-2013

International, Islamabad, News, Pakistan, Politics

House Passes Rohrabacher Amendment Tying Human Rights in Pakistan to U.S. Military Aid

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Today, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s (R-CA) amendment tying the Defense Department’s ability to give monetary aid to Pakistan’s military to its treatment of ethnic and religious minority groups was included in final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 by the House of Representatives.

The amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to certify that Pakistan is not using its military to “persecute minority groups for their legitimate and nonviolent political and religious beliefs.” The amendment specifically names the Balochi, Sindhi and Christian minorities, among others.

“This is a giant step forward for those victims of oppression in Pakistan,” said Rohrabacher. “For the first time their plight is being recognized and a policy is being established of not giving the Pakistani government the weapons to carry on their repression. This is the first time the plight of the Balochi and the Sindhi have been underscored in legislation that links support for Pakistan’s military to how they treat those minority groups.”

Read more » http://rohrabacher.house.gov/press-release/house-passes-rohrabacher-amendment-tying-human-rights-pakistan-us-military-aid

Balochistan, Human Rights, International, Islamabad, News, Pakistan, Politics, Punjab

US, UK support for Baloch leader shocks Pakistan, allies at UN

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By: Murtaza Ali Shah

LONDON: Britain and America shocked Pakistan and its allies at the 23rd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s general debate in Geneva on 7 June when the two countries clearly supported nationalist leader Mehran Marri, Balochistan’s representative to the UN, who spoke against the recent elections and alleged that Pakistan was committing rights abuses in Balochistan.

Pakistan is likely to lodge protest with both the countries for taking a hostile position towards Pakistan by intervening on behalf of Mehran Marri who alleged that the recent elections exposed the “farce that the Pakistani establishment wanted to present as democracy”. The support by the two powerful countries to a Baloch separatist leader will give strength to the view of those who suspect that there are elements within the US and the UK who have sympathies for Baloch nationalist factions for their own regional and strategic objectives.

Marri, the youngest son of Karachi-based veteran leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, said that the Baloch didn’t take part in the election “charade” as participating the elections would have legitimised the “injustices against the Baloch people since 7th March 1948 when Pakistan forcibly annexed Balochistan”.

Mehran Marri told the session that one of the provincial assembly member was elected with 544 votes, on a 1.18 percent voters turnout. Pakistani delegate objected to the remarks made by Marri and said that Pakistan is fully conscious of its obligations to protects the human rights of its citizens.

Continue reading US, UK support for Baloch leader shocks Pakistan, allies at UN →

Balochistan, Current Issues, Human Rights, Islamabad, Life, Pakistan, Politics, Sindh

Balochistan under siege — Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

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. The government admits that 18,000 persons were displaced from Dera Bugti. Such a large exodus results from the terror that military operations and presence create

The headline, “Election security: Balochistan braces for surgical operation” in a national daily left me amazed at the deviousness media uses in its reporting of distressing events and issues to make them look completely innocuous, or even praiseworthy. The crafty employment of words and phrases is truly beguiling and lethally effective in constructing or deconstructing opinions and views about issues. These clichés deceive people into believing that the ‘establishment’ or institutions’ favoured narrative is the absolute truth. This deception is done with such dexterity and panache that readers have no idea that they have been duped and deprived of the truth; moreover, they find themselves applauding and cheering something that is patently obnoxious, brutal and destructive. The ease and frequency with which this trickery succeeds demands that people be informed and educated about this farce, otherwise, we will find people following these sophisticated pied pipers without ever understanding the fatal consequences that follow from blindly believing spurious and misleading ideas, policies and actions to be the truth.

Continue reading Balochistan under siege — Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur →

Balochistan, Human Rights, Islamabad, Life, Pakistan, Politics, Sindh, Sindhi

Repeating Balochistan in Sindh

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By Naseer Memon

The recent spate of violence in Sindh attained yet another traumatic dimension when the brutalised bodies of two young students were found in Dadu district. In a typical Balochistan-styled episode, both activists of a nationalist party, Amir Khahawar and Sajjad Markhand, were picked up in Larkano a few days ago and their tortured bodies were later found on the roadside.

National media, being too occupied with election mania, ignored the incident but the grisly news made rounds on Sindhi television channels. In a similar incident, another political activist, Muzaffar Bhutto, was found dead after a protracted disappearance and four other activists were killed near Sanghar in broad daylight.

The recent incidents triggered a wave of violence, protests and a paralysing strike in large parts of the province. Kidnapping and dumping lacerated and mutilated bodies of political activists turned Balochistan into a vortex of violence and now, the same mistake is being repeated in a relatively sedate province. Similar incidents snowballed a political conflict into a secessionist movement in Balochistan.

The province has been made an open cemetery of political workers and yet, the insurgency has refused to subside. Past insurgencies in Balochistan were mostly confined to a few tribes and their areas, but this time, ceaseless killings have propelled the insurgency and bestowed it with broader ownership of lower and middle class people. An inept policy of using gun power to handle political conflict has not only sullied the country’s image in the international community but fuelled a fire that has become difficult to douse.

A nationalist movement in Sindh started in the early 1970s when GM Syed initiated the Jeay Sindh movement in the aftermath of the debacle of Bangladesh. However, a discrete identity of this movement has been its peaceful demeanour in consonance with GM Syed’s philosophy of non-violence and peaceful coexistence. As a result of that, nationalist parties and splinter groups of Jeay Sindh, in spite of having serious political disagreements, never resorted to mass violence. On April 25, GM Syed’s death anniversary was observed where about half a dozen groups of the Jeay Sindh movement held separate parallel gatherings in Sann and no untoward incident was reported.

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Balochistan, Islamabad, News, Pakistan, Politics, Punjab

An ‘Open Letter’ by Dr. Allah Nazar of the Balochistan Liberation Front to Pakistan TV anchor, Hamid Mir

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March 15, 2013

Dear Hamid Mir,

I am writing you this letter with the hope that perhaps the historians of the next century – standing in the witness box of history – will reveal the truth about the oppressed Baloch nation, hold the colonial powers and occupying rulers of the day accountable and examine the role and discourse of its advocates and intelligentsia. It should not be the case that today’s columnists and intellectuals are restrained by the fear of the ruler or its lust for conquest.

A century ago, British Lord B. Fell said, “We know and understand the history of Egypt far better than the Egyptians do.” Even one hundred and 25 years later these contemptuous words remain on the pages of history.

Similarly, the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, when in Garhi Khuda Baksh said, “Baloch should learn politics from us.”

His implication was that the Baloch are ignorant, illiterate and unfamiliar with statecraft–born to be slaves. There is only the gap of a century between the words of Lord B. Fell and President Zardari, but the subject and message is the same: the lesson of slavery.

Mr. Hamid Mir, you hold the leading position among contemporary intellectuals belonging to the colonial state’s electronic and print media. Many of the policies of the state are devised and executed with the counsel of your community.

But knowledge and consciousness demand to be on the side of truth. Jean-Paul Sartre, who despite being French, supported the Algerian freedom movement against the colonial system with his pen and wrote a golden chapter of history.

Like Sartre, Mr. Hamid Mir, you are an intellectual. Yet you not only support the inhumane, immoral and terrorizing conduct of the occupying state in Balochistan, you have also actively advised the state regarding how to eliminate the Baloch freedom fighters and how to perpetuate its occupation over Baloch land.

Continue reading An ‘Open Letter’ by Dr. Allah Nazar of the Balochistan Liberation Front to Pakistan TV anchor, Hamid Mir →