Tag: Balochistan

The IHC in a previous hearing had given a February 13 deadline to the federal government for recovery of the missing Baloch students….reports Asian Lite News

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday in the missing Baloch students’ case, a media reports said.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said during a hearing that those found involved in enforced disappearances should be awarded double death penalty, ARY News reported.

“Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar should appear in person before the court on Monday and explain to the bench why a case should not be registered against him,” Justice Kayani said.

On the plea of the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) seeking adjournment of the hearing, Justice Kayani said, “I am showing leniency that both DGs are not being summoned.”

AAG Usman Ghumman earlier told the court one of the 12 missing students has also been foind. He said the Attorney General was not available on Tuesday, seeking adjournment of the case, ARY News reported.

The court, however, rejected the state lawyer’s request.

The IHC in a previous hearing had given a February 13 deadline to the federal government for recovery of the missing Baloch students.

The court in a written order had also summoned the final report of all Baloch missing persons regarding their reaching their homes, ARY News reported.

“The court is not demanding statements on oath from the Prime Minister, Interior or Defence Secretaries and security institutions for now. If the missing persons are not recovered, statements on oath will be demanded and legal proceedings will be initiated,” the court order read.

The Attorney General submitted a list of Baloch students missing in enforced disappearances. The court was informed that 12 missing Baloch students’ cases have been unresolved, ARY News reported.

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Against the backdrop of armed conflict, a sizable segment of Balochistan’s population voiced a vehement rejection of the electoral process through demonstrations and boycotts….reports Asian Lite News

At a time when general elections in Pakistan remained a burning issue globally, at-home politics portrayed a totally different picture, with protests and boycotts across the nations, especially Balochistan.

Against the backdrop of armed conflict, a sizable segment of Balochistan’s population voiced a vehement rejection of the electoral process through demonstrations and boycotts.

Quite recently, a major protest took place in Heronk, a district of Kech in Balochistan, where women gathered in front of a polling booth, vocalising their disagreement with placards linking election participation with terrorism, reflecting a larger mood of hostility towards the political process in Balochistan. The situation worsened when security officers allegedly used force to remove the demonstrators, showing tensions between the local population and government.

Similarly, dramatic scenes unfolded in Goburd, Mand, when Baloch women and children screamed “Yeh Wardi Wale, Deshatgard” (These Uniformed Ones, Terrorists) in front of Pakistani military trucks. Following that, the electoral process was halted in the region.

Dramatic scenes in Goburd, Mand today as Baloch women and children chant “Yeh Wardi Wale, Deshatgard”, right in front of Pakistani military vehicles. The Pakistani military personnel make victory signs at the end of the video. Election process has been discontinued in the area. pic.twitter.com/x5Fl0TGO7K

— The Balochistan Post – English (@TBPEnglish) February 8, 2024

This outpouring of discontent was echoed in other districts, including Kech, Gwadar, and Kharan, where local demonstrators disrupted the polling process.

Polling sites in Tehsil Mand in Kech district and Tehsil Hoshab remained vacant, with no polling officials or voters present, echoing strong demands by nationalist organisations to boycott the polls. A relatively low participation was seen in Baloch-majority parts of Balochistan, reported The Balochistan Post.

At least nine people lost their lives, and over a dozen sustained injuries in a series of violent incidents on Thursday, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district and multiple districts of Balochistan, as per Dawn.

In Dera Ismail Khan, five police personnel were martyred, and two others were injured as an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated within the jurisdiction of Kulachi police station. According to Dawn, the incident occurred while a police vehicle was patrolling the Gara Aslam area of Kulachi for election security. Militants ambushed the vehicle, resulting in casualties.

Furthermore, polling stations in Gwadar, Kech, and Panjgur districts of Balochistan faced grenade and rocket attacks, claiming the lives of five police officers in the D.I. Khan blast. Additionally, the toll rose to 30 in Khanozai and Qila Saifullah due to bomb explosions.

In a statement, Balochistan Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed the death toll and noted that the Islamic State (Wilayah Pakistan) claimed responsibility for targeting the election office of an independent candidate in Khanozai as reported by Dawn.

Meanwhile, amid the violence, polling in central, southern, and northern districts proceeded peacefully with tightened security measures.

The incidents underscore the challenges faced during the election process in certain regions, emphasizing the need for heightened security measures and vigilance to ensure the safety of citizens and electoral processes. (ANI)

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The targeted attacks highlight the delicate security situation prevailing in certain regions of Balochistan, particularly in the lead-up to the February 8 elections….reports Asian Lite News

Two separate blasts shook the districts of Kech and Panjgur in Balochistan on Tuesday, sparking concerns about security as Pakistan gears up for the upcoming general elections scheduled on February 8, a media report said.

In the Hoshop area of Kech district, unidentified armed assailants lobbed a grenade targeting the NADRA office, Express Tribune reported.

The hand-grenade was detonated within the NADRA office premises, resulting in a significant explosion. However, specific details regarding the extent of damages are yet to be disclosed, sources told The Express Tribune.

In another incident in the Surdu area of Panjgur, a bomb blast occurred at the residence of Abdul Qadeer Sajdi, a prominent figure associated with the National Party.

Reports indicate that the attack coincided with a crucial meeting concerning the upcoming general elections, infusing a political dimension into the incident, Express Tribune reported.

These targeted attacks highlight the delicate security situation prevailing in certain regions of Balochistan, particularly in the lead-up to the February 8 elections.

Authorities are anticipated to enhance security measures to safeguard candidates, political gatherings, and electoral processes.

Recently, Balochistan has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of low-scale bomb explosions targeting election campaign offices and candidates across the province, Express Tribune reported.

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The intermittent network outages have posed challenges for independent candidates, like lawyer Jibran Nasir in Karachi, who heavily rely on social media for outreach due to budget constraints….reports Asian Lite News

Balochistan, amidst rising security concerns due to a surge in terrorist attacks, has decided to limit internet services in sensitive polling stations leading up to the February 8 elections, as reported by Pakistan-based newspaper News International

Jan Achakzai, the caretaker information minister, declared the decision, citing the potential threat of terrorist activities during the polling process.

Taking to X, Jan Achakzair stated that there was a risk that the terrorists might use social media platforms as a means of communication for their nefarious plans.

“Ensuring the safety and security of ordinary citizens is of utmost importance, as there is a concern that terrorists may exploit social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and other similar channels for communication purposes,” he wrote in an X post.

He further stated that internet access will be restricted in the lead-up to the elections in regions including Turbat, Mach, and Chaman, the latest areas to witness a terrorist attack in the province.

The move, aimed at safeguarding citizens, comes amid a challenging security landscape, particularly with an escalation in attacks targeting political parties and their campaign gatherings, as per The News International

However, the intermittent network outages have posed challenges for independent candidates, like lawyer Jibran Nasir in Karachi, who heavily rely on social media for outreach due to budget constraints.

According to The News International, Jibran Nasir, expressing concerns over the government’s actions, deems the shutdowns as setting a “dangerous precedent” and violating constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression.

With less than a week until the polls, security measures have intensified nationwide to ensure a conducive environment for the electoral process.

Despite the security measures, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has assured the public of an uninterrupted polling day experience, ruling out the possibility of communication and internet service disruptions.

However, the situation differs in Sindh, where caretaker Information Minister Ahmed Shah stated that no decision has been made regarding the suspension of internet and communication services on February 8.

Earlier, the provincial government in Balochistan on Sunday imposed restrictions on public meetings and electoral gatherings, citing security threats, local media reported.

Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai took to social media platform X to announce the ban and elaborated that the step has been taken in “response to a terror alert”, indicating the presence of a suspected female suicide bomber in Quetta, The Express Tribune reported.

Achakzai emphasised the necessity of imposing restrictions on public gatherings and electoral meetings. He urged all political parties and candidates to conduct their meetings indoors.

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The police said that the explosive was detonated outside the ECP office’s gate….reports Asian Lite News

With the Pakistan General Elections drawing near, explosions and violence have also become prevalent in the last few days in the country, as another bomb blast reportedly took place outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Balochistan’s Nushki District on Sunday, ARY News reported.

However, no casualties have been reported so far.

In a statement, the police said that the explosive was detonated outside the ECP office’s gate.

The inquiry into the nature of the explosion is ongoing. The police have roped off the area and the search operation to capture the culprits is underway, according to ARY News.

Last week, an explosion took place outside the Karachi office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

According to the SSP, the explosive material was stored in a shopping bag beside the wall of the ECP office, which is situated in the red zone area of Karachi. He pointed out that the explosive substance did not contain ball bearings, as reported by ARY News.

The explosion outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Karachi office has been noted, and reports from the District Monitoring Officer and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South have been requested by the poll body.

Meanwhile, as many as six people, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers, were injured on Friday in various hand grenade attacks in different towns of Balochistan.

Several incidents of violence marred the pre-election atmosphere in Balochistan and Karachi as multiple hand grenade attacks and explosions targeted political entities and election-related offices.

In Kalat town’s Mughalsarai area, three PPP workers were wounded when unidentified assailants on a motorcycle targeted the party’s election office, detonating a grenade in close proximity to the building, reported Dawn.

In Balochistan, six individuals, including PPP workers, sustained injuries in various hand grenade attacks across different towns.

The general elections will take place across the four provinces of Pakistan on February 8. (ANI)

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There has been a surge in attacks on political rallies, offices and candidates, alongside terror incidents, particularly in these two provinces for the last few weeks….reports Asian Lite News

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will hold a crucial meeting to discuss the worsening state of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, as reported by Geo News.

Reportedly, there has been a surge in attacks on political rallies, offices and candidates, alongside terror incidents, particularly in these two provinces for the last few weeks.

Rehan Zeb Khan, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) youth activist and an independent candidate contesting for the National Assembly seat from Bajaur, NA-8, was shot down by unidentified armed assailants, who opened fire on him in his hometown Bajaur on Wednesday.

In the wake of his murder, the ECP directed the provincial chief secretary and inspector general of police to submit a comprehensive report of the incident, an official said, Geo News reported.

“The scheduled meeting in Islamabad on Thursday at 3 pm will be attended by the minister and secretary of the interior, chief secretaries, inspectors general of KP and Balochistan, and officials from intelligence agencies,” the official emphasised.

Following the incident, the ECP took notice of such incidents, noting the firing that took place on a convoy of a political party in the Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan in which one person was killed and a grenade attack outside the house of a candidate of PB-25 constituency in Kech district.

Later, the ECP asked for immediate reports from the chief secretary and IG Balochistan and directed for immediate action to be taken against those involved, according to Geo News.

Meanwhile, the ECP also took notice of the bomb attack at the election office of a political party in Quetta and sought an immediate report from the Balochistan chief secretary and inspector general of police.

It further directed for taking action against the people held accountable, under the election laws.

Meanwhile, following the day of the deadly blast that ripped through Balochistan’s Sibi, the US condemned the attack, which reportedly killed at least four people and injured several others, Geo News reported.

The US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said the attack “undermines the electoral process”.

Although there were reports of four casualties in the blast, the State Department’s post on X, formerly Twitter, stated that the explosion killed “10 people”.

“The US strongly condemns the attack on the PTI party rally in Sibi killing 10 people, which undermines the electoral process. Pakistani people have the right to choose their leader without fear for the country’s stability and prosperity. Our deepest sympathies to those affected,” the post read.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly condemned the attacks on the party’s election office in Quetta, Khuzdar and the residences of candidates in Turbat, according to Geo News.

” I have just been informed of a 3rd grenade attack on the resident of Agha Shakeel Durrani Pakistan Peoples Party’s PB-19 candidate and former district Mayor Khuzdar, Balochistan. I hope and pray no one is hurt,” Zardari stated on X.

Furthermore, he added that two PPP candidates, former minister Zahoor Buledi and Haji Ali Madad Jattak were targeted in two separate grenade attacks in Balochistan.

“I condemn this terrorism in the strongest terms. InshaAllah on Feb 8th we will bury the politics of violence, hate and division at the ballot box. We are the party of martyrs,” he said, adding that the PPP cannot and will not be intimidated by cowardly terrorists. (ANI)

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Mahrang Baloch accused Pakistan’s Frontier Corps officers of threatening and beating the protestors….reports Asian Lite News

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Highway in Balochistan was blocked after a case of enforced disappearance came to the fore. Baloch activist Mahrang stated that his family has blocked the CPEC route and demanded his release.

Mahrang Baloch accused Pakistan’s Frontier Corps officers of threatening and beating the protestors. She added that the missing man’s family have continued the protest. In the picture shared by Baloch on social media platform X, people could be seen blocking the road to protest the enforced disappearance of man.

In a post on X, Mahrang Baloch stated, “Another case of enforced disappearances in #Balochistan . Wahid Bux, a resident of Kech, has been abducted from his home. His family’s has blocked the CPEC route, demanding justice and his release.FC officers have threatened and beaten the protesters and the family but the family has continued their protest.”

The missing man has been identified as Wahid Bakhsh, from Balochistan’s Kech district. Pakistani forces allegedly forcibly disappeared an elderly man from Kech on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, The Balochistan Post reported.

The man was allegedly forcibly disappeared in a house raid carried out by Pakistani forces in Sami on the outskirts of Turbat city of Kech, The Balochistan Post reported. After the incident, family members of the missing man and local residents blocked the M-8 CPEC highway near Sami and demanded his safe recovery.

During the sit-in on the highway, a large number of Pakistani forces surrounded the protesters and brandished guns and during this time there was a scuffle while the forces reportedly tried to whisk another youth away.

During the sit-in on the highway, a large number of Pakistani forces surrounded the protesters and brandished guns. During this time, a scuffle erupted between two sides and the forces reportedly tried to whisk another youth away, The Balochistan Post reported.

On Friday, a young man identified as Bahadur Chakar was allegedly forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces after a sit-in on the same highway. The youth was handed over to the family after successful negotiations between the district administration and the victim’s family on Monday.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received a written statement submitted by the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), highlighting the increasing cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan in recent years.

The statement has been sent online and will be addressed during the 55th session (February 26-April 5) of the UN Human Rights Council.

BHRC has submitted the statement under Agenda Item 4 through the Centre for Gender Justice and Women Empowerment, a non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the UN.

The statement focused on the escalating crisis of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, citing the number of cases verified in the year 2023.

In the statement, BHRC stated, “In 2023, 506 individuals were subjected to enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Shockingly, Pakistani security forces extrajudicially killed 47 of the missing persons. The number of forcibly disappeared individuals from January 2022 to December 2022 was 367, indicating a significant increase in such cases last year.”

“The crimes against humanity in Balochistan have deeply impacted the lives of nearly every family. The families of the victims endure the trauma of their members’ disappearances. Furthermore, these families encounter harassment, intimidation, and physical threats or attacks when they report or speak out against enforced disappearances,” it added.

In the statement, the BHRC expressed concern over the treatment of Baloch protesters in Islamabad. It mentioned about the recent public speeches by Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, labelling victims of enforced disappearances as ‘terrorists’ and threatening those sympathizing with the affected families, underscore Pakistan’s unwillingness to address the issue and its blatant disregard for human rights and international laws, without any fear of accountability. (ANI)

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It should be noted that forced disappearances have been ongoing in Balochistan for decades…reports Asian Lite News

Amid continuous protests against the Pakistan atrocities, 10 individuals have disappeared from the Dera Bugti area of Balochistan province in Pakistan, The Balochistan Post reported.

The daily’s report on Sunday stated that Pakistani security forces, along with secretive agencies, conducted a house-to-house search operation in Sui town, Dera Bugti, and “forcibly disappeared” 10 people in separate house raids.

The Pakistani forces conducted a raid in Zafar Colony after which the GTA District President and Jamhoori Watan Party activist Master Ghaus Bakhsh, son of Miran Bakhsh Bugti are missing.

Similarly, Rahim Dad, son of Haji Bugti, and Rahim Dad, son of Swali Bugti, who were sitting at Musa Hotel in Tehsil Bazar of Sui, were also abducted allegedly by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and secret agency officials, the daily reported.

Meanwhile, Atifullah, son of Gobar Khan Bugti, went missing after being detained allegedly by Pakistani intelligence agencies from his home in the Jokra Morh area of Sui, while three more youths were also detained from the Shahzain Pump area of Sui and could not be identified immediately, The Balochistan Post reported.

Moreover, Faisal, son of Hanif Bugti, and Shah Hussain, son of Shah Gul Bugti, were also detained by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) from the Labour Quarter of Sui Field Fence but both were released later in the evening.

On the other hand, the family of Bahadur Chakar, a resident of Tejaban area of Kech district, continued their sit-in protest against the forced disappearance by the Pakistan Army for the second day today.

On Saturday night, Pakistani forces allegedly raided the house of a young man named Bahadur Chakar in Tejaban Sang Kalat and detained him, after which his whereabouts remained undisclosed. Following the incident, the family and the locals blocked the M-8 CPEC highway and suspended traffic by staging a sit-in protest against the forced disappearance of the youth.

The family members spent last night on the China Pakistan Economic Route (CPEC) route, while the sit-in continued for the second day today.

It should be noted that forced disappearances have been ongoing in Balochistan for decades, and in the last 24 hours, seven more Baloch students were detained from two districts of Balochistan and subsequently shifted to unknown locations, allegedly by Pakistani law-enforcement agencies. (ANI)

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