Diary - Balochistan
 
Balochistan in blood
Visits 883
September 30, 2011
Lawlessness, extrajudicial killings, injustice, kidnapping for ransom, mutilated bodies and other heinous incidents are on the rise in Balochistan, exposing the tall claims by both the federal as well as the provincial government about a better security situation in the province. The ongoing wave of terrorism and extremism gripping Balochistan has created uncertainty among its hapless and helpless inhabitants.

On September 20, at least 26 Shia pilgrims were killed and six others injured in Ganjidori area of Mastung about 30 kilometers from Quetta when a group of armed men attacked a passenger bus carrying pilgrims from Quetta to Iran. The bus was carrying 45 passengers. Majority of passengers were Shia pilgrims. It was on its way to Taftan, a town bordering Iran, from Quetta when some armed men intercepted it.

“The assailants ordered the passengers off the bus, lined them up and then gunned them down. The banned outfit Lashkar-i-Janghvi claimed responsibility for the attack and its spokesperson, who introduced himself as Ali Sher Haideri, said his organization will continue to target Shias. The pilgrims did not inform the Home Department about their journey nor did they request security. Balochistan Health Secretary Asmatullah Kakar said that doctors and paramedics had been called to provide medical aid to the injured. Law enforcement personnel and police rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area to trace the assailants.

Reacting to the incident, the relatives of pilgrims staged a demonstration on Quetta-Taftan National Highway and outside the civil hospital and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital. Due to the protest demonstration traffic on the National Highway remained suspended while long queues of passenger coaches and private vehicles also remained stranded for several hours. On the firm assurance of the local administration, the angry protestors dispersed. Meanwhile, Majlis Wahdate Muslimeen and Azadari Council announced a three-day morning and a protest demonstration in the provincial capital against the killing of the devotees.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik directed Inspector General Balochistan and FC Officials to take foolproof security measures in the province. This is not the first incident of its kind. This security lapse is due to weak Balochistan administration. The incident is negligence and slackness on the part of Balochistan government, as incidents of security lapse in this part have become a common practice.

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Aslam Raisani announced mourning after the Mastung tragedy, terming it highly gruesome. He also formed a committee to probe the killing of 26 pilgrims. The committee has been directed to present its report in 15 days. He said strict action will be taken against the criminals. The committee comprises Interior Secretary Major (R) Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, Inspector General (IG) Balochistan Police Rao Mohammad Amin Hashim, Commissioner of Quetta and Khuzdar Division Naseem Lehri, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Quetta Ehsan Mahboob, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Quetta Shaukat Ali Maraghzani and Mastung DC Noorul Haq Baloch.


Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), National Party (NP) and others strongly condemned the killings in Mastung and Quetta and demanded that the government step down as it had failed to protect the life and property of citizens. The final showdown looks on the cards as the recent meetings of JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed show that things will take a new turn.

Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been fighting for the secession of province, gets logistic support from India, while another CIA and Indian-supported separatist group Jundollah (God’s soldiers) is also working against the cordial relationship of Pakistan with China and Iran. In the past few years, their militants kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan with the cooperation of foreign agents.

Collusion against Balochistan ??n’t be seen ?n isolation. The agents ?f CIA, RAW ?nd Mosssad ?r? well-penetrated ?n various NGOs ?nd human rights organisations wh??h ?r? being used f?r a malicious propaganda against Pakistan’s security forces. Concrete steps are required for balanced strategies to cope with international conspiracies. The president of Balochistan chapter of Pakistan People’s Party Senator Lashkari Raisani has condemned the Mastung carnage, terming it barbaric. He appealed to all political and religious parties to take a serious notice of the situation as things are slipping out of hands.

On the other hand, Chairman of Hazara Democratic Party Abdul Khaliq Hazara has alleged the government for protecting the target killers who are sabotaging peace and promoting sectarianism. “We are doing our utmost to provide relief to the downtrodden but such activities are halting our peace campaign. We knocked the doors of federal government but the leaders paid no heed to our miseries and hence we expect no justice. If we look into the September 20 Mastung incident, we see the same company twice carried the pilgrims. The driver is said to be not trained and professional. The owner of the coach escaped showing that he was involved in suspicious activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday took suo motu notice of Ganjidori incident. The chief justice took note of the incident following appeals from civil society members after reports on the incident were published in local and national media. The private transporters, who provide transportation to pilgrims from Quetta to Iran, have already been directed to get themselves registered with the Home Department. The law already exists at the federal level under which transporters must first inform the government if they provide transportation to pilgrims.”

Shia Muslims usually travel from Quetta to Iran through the private transport companies and mostly without any security cover. It is unfortunate that the killings have intensified. Therefore, the government is compelled to adopt strict security measures.

Some circles believe the time has come to wake up as Balochistan is in blood and this blood game must end, the sooner the better. Balochistan has become a killing field. A lot of time has since been wasted. Who is responsible for this indifference and apathy?

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