No end in sight to Pakistani army atrocities in Balochistan
Amid the ongoing turmoil in Pakistan threatening to further divide the civilian polity and the all powerful army, Balochistan continues to reel under severe excesses perpetrated by the security forces on the Baloch populace who are getting increasingly restive to breathe more freedom and liberty.
The action by the khaki-clad forces in the Baloch province has been cold and calculated.
Objective of the ceaseless brutal move by the Pakistan establishment is obviously to stifle the Baloch voice and tighten the stranglehold, exactly as the province is all set to internationalise the issue of ongoing atrocities on the Balochis. There are several instances in support of the Baloch claims on excesses on them. The federal government's crackdown on the Baloch youth opposing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the central issue of a direct confrontation.
Available figures suggest in July, under the national plan, security forces had killed 375 and incarcerated 13,575 in nearly 3,000 operations displaying an ugly show of force. Any opposition to the CPEC was crushed with violence. On October 4, 22-year-old Shabbir Baloch was abducted by security forces in Gwarkop. Under the ensuing operation, 50 vehicles were used on ground, supported by two gunship helicopters. This demonstrates the intensity of the offensive against the hapless Balochis.
Shabbir Baloch was always active with Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) and was also the information secretary and spokesperson of this outfit. As of now, Shabbir's whereabouts are still unknown.
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| Baloch youth protest against Pakistani oppression in Balochistan. [Photo: Agencies] |
Earlier on September 30, Majeed Rashid was arrested while travelling from Mand to Gomazi via Tump and Kech. His vehicle was stopped at Azian checkpost. Since then he is untraceable. His disappearance, under mysterious circumstances, raises strong suspicion about the intent of the atrocious security forces.
Meanwhile, reports trickled in confirming that activist Hasil Baloch was shot dead in cold blood in front of a large crowd on October 5 in Kech under district Makran. Such naked aggression came in the wake of Pakistan government's open and repeated warnings that no hurdles would be tolerated in the way of CPEC.
Other than the oppression perpetrated on the Balochis, Pakistan has been witnessing several acts of terror. A product of Pakistan military, terrorism in Pakistan has now engulfed the nation under its inflamed wings.
The inferno refuses to die down. On September 13, an explosion detonated by the terrorists claimed innocent lives and grievously wounded many in Shikarpur, Sind. In another glaring attack on September 16, 36 were killed and several injured at a deadly explosion in midst of a Friday congregation at a mosque in Anbar Tahsil.
These acts of terror at regular intervals by state and non-state actors with Balochis as the prime target, throws up a great sense of insecurity amongst the innocent Pakistanis who are aspiring for an amicable relationship with India but their dreams look shattered by the masterly inaction and nonstop human rights abuses by the authorities.
In the ongoing turbulent times, Pakistani media is on the radar of its notorious intelligence and military.
Cyril Almeida, a well-known journalist from Dawn newspaper is being blatantly hounded for his candid disclosures that Sharif led government had recently warned the ISI and the military to act against terror groups reining them in, and more importantly, to start reinvestigation on the cases of terror attacks in Pathankot and Mumbai 26/11.
Irked by the bold press coverage, Cyril has incurred the wrath of the government and may face tough action. On the flip side, however, this gives a wonderful opportunity for the media fraternity in Pakistan to steadfastly unite and fight the establishment.
Given the current fragile state of affairs in Pakistan, this remains only a faint possibility.
Watch: Rajdeep Sardesai on Cyril Almeida, a brave journalist, risked violence to take on Pak government