Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) elects new cabinet members

Press Release:

London: 2019-03-26

The executive committee of the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) elected Dr. Naseer Dashti as its new Executive President following the resignation of Waja Akber Barakzai.  In a meeting held in London on 23^rd March 2019, Jamshaid Amiri was appointed as the representative for Western Balochistan while Qambar Malik Baloch was elected as the Secretary Information of BHRC.

The meeting resolved that it will increase its endeavours in order to highlight in international fora the serious human rights challenges facing the Baloch people. It was also decided that a responsible and inclusive approach will be taken in the strategies of BHRC in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the organization.

In this regard, it was agreed that BHRC would liaise and work towards the establishment of coordinating channels and alliances with other rights groups working for the achievement of the same objectives. 

The Council while expressing grave concern over the appalling human rights situation in Balochistan resolved to increase and expand its participation in the bi-annual UNHRC sessions in Geneva. Various other activities by BHRC in the coming months were discussed and teams were constituted to look into the future events of the organization that would include convening conferences on the human rights situation of Balochistan in different capitals of the western world.

Baloch Human Rights Council - UK arranged a major awareness campaign in Geneva highlighting Balochistan's human rights situation

Press Release: Highlights of the BHRC’s campaign at the Broken Chair in Geneva

In view of the human rights challenges facing the people of Balochistan at the hands of the security establishment of Pakistan, and considering the vulnerable situation facing the Baloch as a national entity, the Baloch Human Rights Council – UK organized a major three days awareness campaign during the 40^th session of the UNHRC directed at highlighting the plight of the Baloch people demanding international intervention into the 'unchecked and concentrated brutalities' being perpetrated against them by the state security forces of Pakistan for the last many decades.

The three days campaign commenced on 10^th March 2019 by setting up of a Tent at the Broken Chair in Geneva with a noticeable sized note reading, “Save The Baloch” and “#Baloch Genocide” erected on roadside. The campaign concluded on 13^th March 2019, comprising of various activities as listed below:

1.      Exhibition on Human Rights situation of Balochistan:

A series of documentaries portraying a detailed account of various human rights violations and their repercussions being perpetrated by the state authorities of Pakistan against the Baloch people were played at intervals on 10^th and 11^th March 2019. The documentaries explained in a chronological order the historical context of the human rights situation in Balochistan making it into the present.

 

2.      Human Rights Conference:

 

On the second day of the awareness campaign, the BHRC convened a major conference entitled, “Balochistan of Pakistan: the Human Cost” at the Broken Chair in Geneva to bring forward a more informed opinion regarding the generally underestimated and largely overlooked human rights situation of Balochistan. The conference moderated by Qambar Malikhad invited a distinguished panel of speakers from diverse backgrounds and with extensive experience in the area who shared their insights on the subject matter. The conference was presided by the General Secretary of the BHRC Samad Baloch while the prominent among the speakers were Paulo Casaca of South Asia Democratic Forum, Member of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki, Executive Director of IHRC Baseer Naweed, Human Rights Defender Dr. Zafar Baloch, HRCB’s Chairperson Taj Baloch, Lucia Parrucci of UNPO, Dr. Hidayat Bhutto of WSC and Human Rights Defender Karima Baloch.

At the end of the conference proceedings a Resolution was adopted affirming and asserting the following:

Conference Declaration:

1.      Expresses extreme concern on the continuing state supervised human rights violations in Balochistan and noted that the kill and dump policy adopted by the state security agencies in Balochistan for the last two decades, has costs hundreds of precious lives.

2.      Draws the attention of international community towards the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances of the Baloch political and social activists by the army and its proxy death squads. Expresses deep concern at the silent complicity of the international community at the grave violations of human rights in Balochistan and demands that international human rights organizations should step up their efforts against the brutalities of the Pakistani military establishment in Balochistan.

3.      Urges the Secretary General of UNO to exert pressure on Pakistani authorities to end the brutal treatment and enforced disappearances of the Baloch social, political and literary figures and to abandon its inhuman  “kill and dump” policy in Balochistan.

4.      Emphasizes further that the Baloch people are facing a situation where not only the personal security is at stakes but also their socio-cultural values, languages, traditional knowledge system, and way of life are suppressed violently in order to dilute their demand for the right of self-determination. 

5.      Expresses concern over the fact that being one of the richest land in the world, the people are Balochistan are among the poorest of the poor. This is because of the systematic disenfranchisement of Baloch and ruthless exploitation of their resources by Pakistani state in the benefit of Punjab under the pretext of various controversial mega-projects including the most recent and much hyped China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

6.      The Baloch as a nation has the inherent and universal right of self-determination as enshrined in international law, including in the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The implementation of the right of self-determination is fundamental for the survival of the Baloch, including their cultural values, languages, religions, economy, and ways of life, land and resources.

7.     The international community must come forward and urge the government of Pakistan to refrain from the use of oppressive measures leading to human rights violations against the Baloch. It must take immediate measures to ensure that the perpetrators of human rights violations within the Military, paramilitary and proxy organizations of these States to face justice.

3.      Protest Demonstration:

Following the conference on 11 March 2019, BHRC held a protest demonstration at the Broken Chair lashing out at the discriminative and anti Baloch policies of the Pakistani authorities. The protest was joined in by the representatives from World Sindhi Congress, and people representing Pashtuns and Kashmiris who accused the Pakistan state authorities of dehumanizing the Baloch and demanded an intervention of the International community into the matter to refrain Pakistan from further suppression of ethnic minorities in Pakistan. The participants also demanded fair trial and safe release of forced disappeared Baloch socio-political activists and human rights defenders in Pakistan.

4.      Intervention on Item 3 and Item 4:

Taj Baloch of Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) delivered a speech on Item 3 on the Human rights situation in Balochistan at the 40^th session of the UNHRC on 10^th March 2019 whereas Karima Baloch a prominent Human rights defender read her observations on Item 4 at the UNHRC 40^th session to draw the council’s attention on the Human rights crisis in Balochistan on 13^th March 2019.

 

5.      Memorandum to UN General Secretary:

A memorandum intended to draw the attention of the concerned offices to the humanitarian crisis developed in Balochistan because of the actions of Pakistani security forces, Samad Baloch the General Secretary of BHRC submitted memorandums to the offices of UN General Secretary and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 12^th March 2019.

For more pictures of the event Click:
https://www.facebook.com/153593348036053/photos/ms.c.eJxF0VGSRTEEBNAdTSG0tv~_NTUUe9~;eUFsGOVB6XU0LC6s8awj0yQiMGwm~_FJwcQXXF8gGpumtwI2fBFqjoi8gMouqliwKwjPk3x5pCdAyENXgvREdUBvMjZCOpWoHIgezBwBgO1I~;rBq9jRUfpgm1Z2ROwHKS8SE0l94AunP4fd2N1qhhcW3O4~_rGShuiIW8OaQWHg9vqbZh7JvDuoDXeh9RM4~_KNKAOQPVG2I~_R~_N9hXl7qMo9gBmLsAEmK~_65BgoBOyrnB1DcSPZfGmC3Qk4OsJuC0zQ1A2ZF~_wdNyInA.bps.a.2309729702422396/2311056842289682/?type=3&theater

BHRC Letter to UN Secretary General on continuing human rights violation in Balochistan by Pakistan

London, Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) expressed extreme concern on the continuing human rights violations being perpetrated by the Pakistani state security agencies in Balochistan.  In a letter, dated 30/12/2018,  sent to the UN Secretary-General, it drew the attention of international community towards the plight of the family members whose beloved have been abducted by security agencies or their proxy organization and their fate is still unknown. 

The letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nation, written by BHRC (UK), urged him to take cognizance of the grave situation prevailing in Balochistan for the last many decades. 

The letter urged the UN chief to exert pressure on Pakistani authorities to end the brutal treatment of the Baloch social, political and literary figures and to abandon its inhuman  “kill and dump” policy in Balochistan. 

Please read the letter below;

His Excellency António Guterres

Secretary-General

United Nation

United Nations Plaza,

New York, NY 10017

Dated: 30/12/2018

Subject: Continued human rights violation in Balochistan

Dear Sir,

Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) would like to draw your kind attention on the human rights violations being committed by the Pakistani security agencies in Balochistan.

Dear Secretary-General,

Over the past many years, the people of Balochistan have witnessed immense and brutal measures from the State of Pakistan in response to the legitimate demands of the Baloch people for fundamental human rights of civil liberty, justice, and right to self-determination. The Pakistani state has responded with the brutal measures from its military, intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children have been mercilessly killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced and thousands are missing and their whereabouts are still unknown.  We genuinely believe that the lives of thousands of missing persons are in grave danger.

In addition, the Pakistani military establishment has created numerous religious terrorist organizations as proxy “Death Squads” comprising of drug peddlers, dacoits, and convicted criminals. These are given the task of physically eliminating Baloch intellectuals, political and human rights activists. For the last many years, a large number of prominent Baloch social, intellectual and political figures have been targeted. The role of the security establishment and its proxy organizations in the killings and abduction of the Baloch activists have been highlighted in detailed reports from international organizations, some of them are affiliated with the United Nations. It should be noted that access has been denied to foreign observers, journalists, and humanitarian organizations to enter the conflict zones in Balochistan since 2002.

Dear Sir,

We expect that UN will take cognizance of this aspect of human right violation in Balochistan. It is high time that the UN must ensure the physical safety and security of those who are missing for years.

Dear Mr. Secretary General,

The acts of human rights abuses in Balochistan implicate serious violations of Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICCPED) and other applicable norms of international human rights laws.

We once again request you to take the cognizance of the grave situation in Balochistan and pressurize the Pakistani state for an immediate end to genocide acts being committed on the Baloch people. We hope that your personal intervention will give the much-needed relief to a people long been subjected to inhuman atrocities.

Yours Sincerely,

Secretary General

Baloch Human Rights Council (UK)

info_bhrc@yahoo.co.uk

www.balochistanhcr.blogspot.com

: Daughters of abducted Baloch doctor go on hunger strike

Karachi [Pakistan], June28 (ANI) : The daughters of an abducted Baloch doctor are on a hunger strike at the Karachi Press Club, demanding the safe release of their father.

On the night of 28 June 2009, Pakistani security forces abducted Dr. Deen Mohammad Baloch, who is also a member of Baloch National Movement, from Ornach area of Khuzdar Balochistan.

His whereabouts still remain unknown since his abduction and his family has been striving for his safe recovery from past eight years.

Sammi and Mehlab Baloch, daughters of Baloch, have been struggling for the release of their father and have knocked the doors of every court in Pakistan.

They even organised dozens of protests, press conferences, held hunger strike camps and Sammi Baloch held a 3000 km "long march" from Quetta to Islamabad along with other victims' families but failed to get justice from Pakistani institutions and human rights organizations.

The entire Muslim community is celebrating Eid with their families, while thousands of Baloch families are still waiting for their abducted loved ones from Pakistani dark torture cells to be released and reunited with their families.

On 25 June Dr. Deen Mohammad's family announced to organize a three-day sit-in vigil outside Karachi Press Club from 26-28 (three days of Eid).

Daughters of Baloch have appealed to the United Nations to play its role for the safe release of their father.

Sammi Baloch, elder daughter of Dr. Baloch, said that she has used all the democratic and peaceful channels for her father's safe recovery but nobody has listened to her plea for help. She said if her father has committed any crime, he should be presented to a court of law and undergo trial according to law. (ANI)

https://www.msn.com/en-in/video/news/pakistan-brutally-exposed-how-daughters-of-abducted-balochistan-doctor-are-starving-to-invoke-govt-action/vp-BBDr4MP

The Baloch Conflict with Iran and Pakistan — book review

By Hassan Hamdam

In his latest book, ‘The Baloch conflict with Iran and Pakistan: aspects of a national liberation struggle’, Dr. Naseer Dashti traces the history of Baloch national struggle in Iran and Pakistan. The book offers rich insight into the past and present political games played by various powers affecting the Baloch sovereignty and national integrity. In many ways, it is the continuation of what was left behind in author’s earlier book, ‘The Baloch and Balochistan’.  

The history of the world is full of stories of conquerors, dynasties and great empires that committed mass killings, genocides and occupation of the lands of weaker nations. In majority of the historical accounts, the powerful are glorified, and the miseries suffered by the weaker and defeated people are mentioned in passing, and their struggle to defend their land, dignity and honour against the aggressors is depicted as evil. That is what has happened to the Baloch in the books written by the victors.
It has become very difficult to unearth the correct account of the Baloch, as their history has been deliberately mutilated by writers and academics of occupying powers. For the Baloch, the irony is that those who invaded their land, slaughtered their men and women, and enslaved children became their heroes and their children are forced to sing songs of praise for them.
In the context of conquerors and conquered, to read between the lines in the history accounts of conquerors, and try to do justice by bringing a factual narrative of events is hard; nevertheless, there are certain individuals who have taken upon themselves the hard job of scrutinizing the biased version of events. Those who choose this hard and difficult path perhaps have a great reason for their decision. They perhaps believe that it will benefit a larger national cause. For some, it is perhaps to pay their share of debt to the nation and motherland, and perhaps for Dashti no path is hard. His earlier books caused him tremendous problems and he ended up being a refugee in the United Kingdom.
In this book, Dashti provides significant insight into Baloch issues with Iran and Pakistan. He also takes a deeper look into the ups and downs of Baloch resistance from the Pahlavi/Ayatollah’s Iran to the ‘God-gifted’ country of Pakistan, providing a wider picture of historical happenings, and suffering of the Baloch people in both countries. The book describes the role of different parties, individuals, and groups involved in the national struggle of the Baloch.
The first part of the book navigates briefly through the history of the Baloch where they survived the onslaught of mighty Sassanid Empire, the Arab occupation of the Iranian Plateau, and the aggressions of medieval Persian and Turkic dynasties who ruled Iran after the collapse of the Arab rule. The book unfolds the story from a wandering Baloch becoming a nation, preserving a vast land called Balochistan, and establishing its control over this large area for hundreds of years. The Baloch struggle during the Qajar dynasty and the arrival of mighty European powers in the region are among the major happenings in the tortuous history of the Baloch. The author explores the far-reaching impacts of the “Great Game” on Balochistan which was played during the 19th century by the Russians and the British in Central Asia and the Middle East, with the resultant division of the Baloch land and weakening their power. The Baloch resistance during 1920s-1970s is the story of the uprising in Balochistan against the Pahlavi regime of Iran.
Read more:  http://balochistantimes.com/baloch-conflict-iran-pakistan-book-review/

BHRC (UK) condemns the illegal detention of Wahid Baloch and appeals to Human rights organisations to intervene to save the life of Rights activist

Press Release

Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) strongly condemns the kidnapping and illegal detention of the Baloch writer Abdul Wahid Baloch by Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Abdul Wahid Baloch, is a well-known social worker, writer and activist. He was picked up by security agencies four months ago but no one knows where he is being held. Like tens of hundreds of other Baloch social and political activists, he has completely disappeared from the radar. His family and friends have not been told about the whereabouts of Mr Baloch. He has so far been neither charged nor produced before a court of law.

On 26 July, he was returning from a wedding in Karachi when he and a friend were stopped by two law enforcement agents. After checking their IDs, the officers arrested Mr Baloch and his friend was allowed to go who informed Mr Baloch's family about his arrest. The family then made inquiries with the Police who denied any knowledge of the arrest. They then tried several times to report his disappearance to the local police station but all in vain. Police simply refused to listen to them and file an F.I.R. (First Information Report). In the Pakistani legal system the courts won't entertain a case without an F.I.R., i.e., a proper police report. After losing hope in the police they filed a suit in the provincial High Court. The judges ordered the police to file an F.I.R. and at the same time ordered them as well as all the secret agencies to produce Mr Baloch before the court on August 16th. Despite the court order, neither he has been produced before the court nor has a formal F.I.R been lodged against the kidnappers of Mr. Baloch.

BHRC believes that disappearance of Mr. Abdul Wahid Baloch is in accordance with the continuing policy of the Pakistani state to physically eliminate the cream of the Baloch society. The Pakistan military and its secret agencies are free to arrest, detain, torture and kill the Baloch people from all walks of society with impunity. Taking into account the track record of state security agencies regarding the Baloch political and social activists, Mr Baloch's life is in grave danger.

BHRC believes that such crimes of the Pakistani intelligence agencies tantamount to genocidal acts punishable under international laws. BHRC  therefore appeals to the international community to take notice of the brutalities of Pakistani army and its agencies which are involved in crime against humanity on daily bases.

BHRC is highly concern about the physical security of Mr. Abdul Wahid Baloch and therefore appeals to all human rights & freedom loving, democratic organisations, parties and individuals to take cognisance of such inhuman activities of the Pakistani state agencies and put pressure on Pakistan to save Mr. Abdul Wahid Baloch’s life.

Issued By:

Secretary General

BHRC (UK)

Dated; 20 November 2016

Baloch Sindhi protest Demonstration against CPEC & Human Rights Violations Infront Of Chinese Embassy in London

PAKISTAN: Military intensifies operation in Balochistan

Pakistan’s security establishment has been conducting military operations in Balochistan since 2001, to obtain control over the Baloch land and resources. Tortured and bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch missing persons are found daily in the province. Resistance by the cornered populace is perceived as insurgency and a threat to national security. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has given the government further excuse to accelerate the military operation against the insurgency fighting for their legitimate right to control their resources.
The Baloch ethnic population perceives the Corridor project as a plan to convert them into a minority in their own homeland, and have openly opposed it on every level. This opposition has fuelled military atrocities such as burning houses and conducting aerial bombardments, victimising children and women.During the past month, many Balochistan districts were seized by security forces. Many persons were killed, including children and women, while dozens went missing after arrest. In the latest development, some parts of the Bolan district have been seized. People are not allowed to go outside as security forces search for militant separatist leaders. All houses were searched, with women and children being manhandled and many persons injured.
Read More: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-051-2016#.VxmCas1gA7o.blogger

PAKISTAN: Military intensifies operation in Balochistan — Asian Human Rights Commission

PAKISTAN: Military intensifies operation in Balochistan — Asian Human Rights Commission

BHRC Letter to UNHCR , requesting to help Baloch refugees in Greece

There are an estimated 300 Baloch refugees in different camps in Athens , Greece, some of them having families with them. The Greek Governments generally considers them as Pakistanis. Since Balochistan is a conflict area where people suffer harsh persecution and death on pure suspicion by Pakistan Army. The international media is not allowed to report from Balochistan. Even the Pakistani media is under order by the Pakistan Army not to provide news or documentary coverage. It is our finding that the human rights situation in Balochistan is dire and terrifying akin to Syria. 
Therefore Bhrc has written a letter TO UNHRC requesting for urgent consideration of their cases. please read the full text of the letter below;

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse.

Dated:  2 December 2015

Subject: Baloch refugees in Greece

Dear High Commissioner,

There are an estimated 300 Baloch refugees in different camps in Athens, some of them having families with them. Baloch Human Rights Council request for urgent consideration of their cases and appeals you for assistance and help. 

Dear Sir,

These Baloch refugees fled their homeland Balochistan as it is currently under a brutal military operation by the Pakistan Army. The Army has been conducting military operations in pursuit of members of the Baloch resistance organizations which are resisting the exploitation and subjugation of the Baloch by Pakistan for the last many years.

As a result, most of the areas in Balochistan are affected by this ongoing conflict between the Pakistan Army and the Baloch resistance fighters. In the last few months, Pakistan Army escalated the conflict by deploying a very large number of ground troops, aided by jet fighters and helicopter gunships.

It is reported by Baloch human rights activists in Balochistan that the Pakistan Army has been carrying out indiscriminate aerial bombardment in recent months. Many houses were burnt down and destroyed by the military operations of Pakistan army.

The Pakistan Army allegedly suspect Baloch villagers for giving help and sanctuary to the Baloch fighters. Therefore there has been a large mass displacement of villagers. Many of them fled their home for fear of reprisal from Pakistani Army. Many of the innocent Baloch people have been abducted, tortured and subsequently killed by the Pakistan Army; and their bodies have been dumped either on roadside or in remote areas in Balochistan. Thousands are believed to be missing. Pakistani government admitted that eight thousand Baloch are missing.

The Baloch refugees in the Athens camps are the fortunate ones who could fled and reached Europe. They require protection on humanitarian grounds.

It is brought to our attention by these Baloch refugees that they are not permitted to travel and seek asylum in another EU country because they are considered to be Pakistani. In a recent EU directive, Pakistanis are considered differently from Syrians and Iraqis.

Our plea to you is that Balochistan is a conflict area where people suffer harsh persecution and death on pure suspicion by Pakistan Army. The international media is not allowed to report from Balochistan. Even the Pakistani media is under order by the Pakistan Army not to provide news or documentary coverage. It is our finding that the human rights situation in Balochistan is dire and terrifying akin to Syria.

Therefore the Baloch refugees in Athens camps must be considered in a special category, not Pakistani as general by the Greek immigration authorities so that they might be able to  seek refuge in another EU country.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Your Sincerely,

General Secretary

Baloch Human Rights Council (UK)

www.balochistanhcr.blogspot.com

info_bhrc@yahoo.co.uk

CC: UNHCR OFFICE in Greece

CC; Greece Ministry of interior

CC: Greece Foreign Minister & Secretary General Of the foreign Minister

CC: Amnesty International Secretariat 

Sindhis and Balochs protests against ruthless military operation in Balochistan and brutal murder of Raja Dahir Bhambro

Press Release

On the 2^nd August 2015, the Baloch and Sindhi communities in the UK gathered in front of UK Prime Minister’s 10 Downing Street residence in London to protest against the ruthless military operation in Balochistan, particularly the current operation in Awaeran and brutal murder of Sindhi nationalist leader Raja Dahir Bhambro.  The protest rally was organized by World Sindhi Congress (WSC) in collaboration with Baloch Human Rights Council (UK), Baloch Students and Youth Association and Baloch Republican Party. A large number of Sindhis, Balochs and representatives of other human rights organisations participated in the protest rally which was addressed by Abdullah Baloch of Balochistan National Movement, Mr Graham Williamson of Nations Without States, Mansoor Baloch of Baloch Republican Party, Mir Ghulam Hussain of Baloch Human Rights Council (UK), Noordin Mengal, the Baloch Human Rights Campaigner and Dr Hidayat Bhutto and Dr Lakhu Luhana of World Sindhi Congress.

The rally chanted slogans against the killing of the Baloch and Sindhi people by Pakistan army.  The speakers strongly condemned the ruthless and inhumane military operation in Awaran, Balochistan against civilian people in which hundreds of innocent lives have been lost. The speakers also strongly condemned the brutal murder of Sindhi nationalist leader Raja Dahir Bhambro.

The speakers requested that the international community raise their efforts and put more pressure on the Pakistani government to stop the military operation in Balochistan and disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Sindhi and Baloch people.

At the end of the rally, a delegation comprising of Dr Hidayat Bhutto, Noordin Mengal, Samad Baloch, Ali Memon, Gul Sanai and Dr Lakhu Luhana went to 10 Downing Street to submit the memorandum  to Rt. Honourable David Cameron, the British Prime Minster, requesting his help to press on the Pakistani government to stop atrocities against Baloch and Sindhi people. The letter also requested that British aid to Pakistan should be conditioned with strictly observance of human rights.  It was also requested that an international commission should be constituted in order to investigate the crimes against humanity being perpetrated by Pakistan in Balochistan and Sindh.

 View the Pitures of the demo;

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.990351701026876.1073741835.153593348036053&type=3    

Memorandum handed over to Prime Minister David Cameron;

02 August 2015

Rt. Honourable David Cameron

Prime Minister to Her Majesty’s Government

10 Downing Street

London

Dear Honourable Prime Minster,

Subject: Genocide in Balochistan by Pakistani Army

We would like to draw your kind attention towards the gruesome violations of human rights by the Pakistani armed forces and intelligence agencies in Balochistan during recent months.

Although, violation of human rights is part of the ruthless war, which the Pakistani military has been waging in Balochistan for the last many years, recent killings of civilians and blockage of a whole area in Awaran region of Balochistan has surpassed all previous brutalities. During the month of June and July hundreds of innocent men, women, and children have been mercilessly killed by aerial bombardments, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and several hundred are missing.

Excellency,

Crude military power has been the only way adopted by almost every Pakistani Government in dealing with the Baloch discontent. The Pakistani army, perceiving the Baloch nationalism as a grave threat to the state, launched major military offensives in Balochistan during 1948, 1958, 1962, and 1973. The ongoing military campaign is the bloodiest one causing internal dislocation of thousands of the Baloch. Violation of basic human rights of the Baloch is the most painful aspect of the Baloch-Pakistan conflict. Extra judicial killings, harassment, kidnapping and inhuman torture of the Baloch leaders, political activists and intellectuals are the normal state responses to the Baloch political mobilization and expression of Baloch national aspirations. The Pakistani military establishment has created numerous religious terrorist organizations as proxy death squads comprised of drug peddlers, dacoits, and social outcasts. These organizations which are working with different nomenclatures have been commissioned by security agencies the task of physically eliminating the Baloch intellectuals, political, and human rights activists. The graphic details of human rights violation in Balochistan have been published by different non-governmental organizations and international humanitarian institutions affiliated with the United Nations.

There has been a steady rise in the magnitude of the abduction of the Baloch by Pakistani secret agencies for the last many months.The situation for the Baloch is alarming. They are living a life at the gunpoint in the shadows of inhuman atrocities by the most atrocious state establishment in contemporary world. The war against the Baloch is being waged without witnesses. They are refusing access to foreign observers, journalists and humanitarian organizations. We believe that no state should be above International Laws. Those who are responsible for grave violation of human rights must be held accountable The Baloch are facing a systematic genocide. They need urgent help from the civilized and democratic world. This is high time for the international community to rise and act before it is too late for the Baloch.

Excellency,

We request that this petition be taken as an urgent humanitarian appeal. We hope that the honorable Prime Minister may kindly take a personal interest in pushing for a thorough and independent international investigation into the serious abuses of human rights and humanitarian laws by the Pakistani Army in Balochistan. We strongly request you to press the Pakistani army establishment to stop all atrocities against the Baloch political, social and human rights activists and civilians. Your immediate intervention could save not only countless innocent lives but could also prevent the present situation from developing into a total genocide of the defenseless Baloch people.

We will be grateful if Her Majesty’s Government could press for the establishment of an international commission to investigate the heinous crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistani State establishments in Balochistan.

Yours faithfully,

 General Secretary Baloch Human Rights Council (UK)

www.balochistanhcr.blogspot.com. smdbaloch@yahoo.co.uk

Noordin Mengal, Baloch Human Rights Campaigner

noordinmengal@hotmail.com

Lakhu Luhana, Chairman World Sindhi Congress

www.worldsindicongress.org, lakhuluhana@yahoo.co.uk

Demonstration in London (UK) against Pakistani State military operation in Balochistan & Sindh

World Sindhi Congress has organised a protest rally with the collaboration of Sindhi Baloch Forum, Baloch Human Rights Council (UK), Baloch  Republican Party and Baloch Youth Students Organisation  in front of British Prime minister's official residence :

10, Downing Street,SW1A 2AA  London on Sunday 
2nd August 2015 from 11 am to 2 pm.

Nearest underground: 
Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle Lines )

The protest is against the Pakistani state's ruthless & indiscriminate military operation against the Baloch civilians in AWARAN in Particular and in Balochistan in General and also against the systematic elimination of Sindhies in Sindh.

The protest will urge The UK and UN authorities  to end their deafening silence on these appalling human abuses and play their due role to bring an end to it.

All Baloch, Sindhi and human rights activists and  democratic , peace lovings are requested to participate in the demo.

Sabeen Mahmud tells BBC, Pakistan spy agency ISI harassed her for speaki...

Sabeen Mahmud tells BBC, Pakistan spy agency ISI harassed her for speaking about Balochistan

Rights activist Sabeen Mahmud dared to discuss a neglected region (Balochistan) of her country. Then she was killed.

Human rights activist Sabeen Mahmud, 40, was heading home with her mother on Saturday when she was fatally shot by gunmen on the streets of Karachi, Pakistan’s major southern port city. Days later, the killing remains unsolved. But her supporters wonder: Did she take on a topic that’s just too taboo in Pakistan? Earlier that fateful Saturday, Mahmud had hosted an event, “Take 2 of Unsilencing Balochistan,” at a cafe she had co-founded. The forum aimed to highlight the human rights abuses in the western Pakistani province, a subject that gets little attention in the country’s mainstream media.
The state has been fighting separatists in Baluchistan, Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, over several decades and often accuses India and Russia of supporting the insurrections with weapons and money. Thousands of people have gone missing in the province during the turbulence, and many say the state has had a hand in the disappearances. Mahmud’s seminar focused on that and other human rights issues in Baluchistan. Fellow activists accused Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, of a role in her killing. “She was killed by those who felt threatened by her. They saw that she could not be contained, so they decided to eliminate her. She is on record saying that people from the intelligence agency visited and questioned her,” said Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, a veteran of Baluch struggle and human rights activist. Amid the accusations, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, a spokesman for the Pakistani army, condemned Mahmud’s killing and tweeted, “Intelligence agencies been tasked to render all possible assistance to investigating agencies for apprehension of perpetrators & bring them to justice.” Mahmud co-founded T2F, a cafe and community space. According to its Web site, T2F “provides citizens with a platform for social change through rich cultural activities, public discourse, and advocacy using progressive ideas and the new media.” Dawn, Pakistan’s leading newspaper, described Mahmud as a “woman of many talents that mostly revolved around creating digital platforms for arts and culture.” Little headway appears to have been made in an investigation into her death. Protests were held in major Pakistani cities on Tuesday, with demonstrators condemning the killing and demanding a thorough investigation. Pakistan is one of the most dangerous places for journalists in the world, and Baluchistan is a virtual no-go area. In the recent past, many who have dared to talk or write about the human rights issues in that province have either fled the country or kept a low public profile. Here’s why: There is a general perception that talking about Baluchistan can get one killed. Local journalists say they are unable to report because they fear for their lives. Many have quit the profession. Some say they are trapped between the state and the separatists — they get a bullet from either side no matter what they report. “The army reacts violently to open discussions on Baluchistan as they have committed serious human rights abuses in the past 11 years. They arrest young Baluch political activists, torture them in custody, and later on kill and dump most of them. The Supreme Court has reprimanded the army, but they have never been accountable to anyone,” said Malik Siraj Akbar, an exiled Baluch journalist.  The army did not respond to calls and e-mails seeking a reaction to the accusations. In the past, however, the military and other security agencies have consistently denied any role in the killings and disappearances in Baluchistan.
Courtesy: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/28/pakistani-activist-sabeen-mahmud-dared-to-discuss-a-neglected-region-of-her-country-then-she-was-killed/