Home Blog Page 18

Pak Army-backed death squad kills Baloch youth

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Panjgur Zone, has issued a stark warning about the escalating violence perpetrated by Pak Army-backed death squads against the Baloch community, highlighting a disturbing pattern of targeted killings and enforced disappearances. The most recent victim, Peer Jan, a Zambad driver from Prom Gaj, was brutally shot dead by operatives of a Army death squad in the New Bazaar area of Panjgur.

This tragic incident is just one of many that illustrate the ongoing campaign of terror aimed at silencing the Baloch youth and stifling their voices in political discourse. These daily attacks are part of a calculated strategy to suppress the Baloch community and keep them under terror.

Families of two missing individuals, Sabir Noor and Abid Noor, have been protesting for four consecutive days along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) road in Panjgur, demanding justice and accountability from the occupied-authority that has repeatedly engaged in launching violence and brutality against them.

The committee condemned the inaction and complicity of the Panjgur administration, urging the occupied-authorities to arrest the killers of Peer Jan. The atmosphere of fear and oppression created by these Army-sponsored death squads serves only to marginalise the Baloch community.

The Baloch Unity Committee’s statement resonates with the growing frustration and anger within the community, as they demand an end to the brutal “kill and dump” policy that has plagued Pak-occupied-Balochistan for far too long. The Baloch people’s right to life, safety, and political expression must be upheld, as they refuse to be silenced by violence and intimidation.

Sindh: Desperate Hindu farmer commits suicide with his children

In yet another heartbreaking incident, Chaman Kolhi, a poor Hindu farmer in Sindh, took his own life along with his three innocent children. Driven to despair by hunger, unemployment and systemic discrimination, Kolhi’s suicide is emblematic of the unbearable conditions faced by the Hindu minority under Pakistan Army rule.

The rising number of suicides among the Hindu community in Sindh is a glaring reflection of the Paki establishment’s oppression and neglect of its religious minorities. While the Pakistan Army continues to pour resources into maintaining its stranglehold over regions like Khyber, POB and POJK, the plight of impoverished minorities like the Kolhi family remains ignored.

For decades, Hindus and other minorities in Sindh have endured relentless persecution, with targeted violence and crimes against them surging at an alarming rate. Instead of addressing these human rights violations, the Punjabi authority and its institutions, effectively endorses the terror and oppression that minorities are forced to endure.

Hunger, unemployment and fear of persecution have become the norm for Sindh’s Hindu community. While the military tightens its grip over every aspect of the country, the suffering of innocent citizens like Chaman Kolhi and his children remains ignored, unreported, and unresolved. The suicide of Kolhi and his children is not just a tragedy; it is an indictment of a state that prioritises power and control over the welfare of its most marginalized citizens.

Radical Islamist abducts, rapes & forcibly converts minor Hindu girl in Pakistan

In a harrowing incident, a 14-year-old-Hindu girl, Rakhi, has been abducted, raped, and forcibly converted to Islam. The perpetrator, identified as Muhammad Irfan, exemplifies a pattern of religious and gender-based violence that has become alarmingly commonplace in the country.

Organizations reveal a grim statistic: every year, approximately 1,000 women and girls from minority Christian and Hindu communities fall victim to similar atrocities. This shocking trend is marked by a disturbing routine where young girls are kidnapped, raped, converted to Islam, and subsequently married off to their abductors or other Muslim men.

The legal process offers little protection for these victims. When the families of abducted girls file police complaints, the kidnappers often retaliate by filing counter-FIRs, accusing the victim’s family of harassment. This manipulation of the legal system not only intimidates the families but also effectively silences the victims. Under immense pressure and threats, the girls are coerced into testifying in favor of their abductors, further perpetuating the cycle of violence and abuse.

According to the volunteer group Responsible for Equality and Liberty (REAL), an estimated 20 to 25 Hindu girls are forcibly converted every month.

The abduction of Rakhi is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of systematic oppression against minorities in Pakistan. The conspirators are the law enforcement agencies, judiciary and the Islamic society that take part in these heinous crimes disregarding the rights and lives of religious minorities.

The time has come for the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its failure to protect its citizens from such egregious acts of violence and to demand justice for the countless victims of forced conversions and abductions.

Mass protests erupt across POB as health workers reject hospital privatisation

The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) of Pak-occupied-Balochistan staged province-wide protests on Thursday, fiercely opposing the occupied-authority’s controversial move to privatize public hospitals and impose contract-based hiring practices. Responding to the GHA leadership’s call, rallies and demonstrations were held in every district of POB, drawing large numbers of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other health workers.

Protestors marched through the streets, voicing strong disapproval of the occupied-authority’s “healthcare-destroying policies.” The privatization of hospitals is a blatant attack on the rights of the public, particularly the underprivileged. “This is nothing short of a robbery of the poor’s access to essential healthcare,” said one protester, highlighting that the policy would deprive millions of already marginalized people of basic health services.

This move is yet another blow to an already underfunded and neglected healthcare system in POB. The region, already struggling with the military’s oppressive tactics and underdevelopment, now faces the threat of further alienating its most vulnerable citizens from basic services.

The GHA leaders were equally vocal in their rejection of contract-based hiring, condemning it as an attack on workers’ rights. Health workers, who face harsh conditions and inadequate resources, fear that contractual jobs would leave them without job security.

The Balochistan Health Alliance has given the provincial government a ten-day ultimatum to reverse these decisions. Failure to do so, they warned, will result in more widespread and severe protests. They are prepared to escalate their movement until their demands are met, showing their commitment to safeguarding public health and the rights of health workers.

In a scathing critique of the occupied-authority, the GHA called on Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and his cabinet to reconsider these decisions, reminding them of the already dire unemployment crisis in the health sector. Thousands of doctors, pharmacists, and other health professionals are already jobless in POB, largely due to the occupied-authority’s mismanagement and negligence.

The protests also served as a reminder of the broader struggles in POB, where the occupied-state’s policies—whether in health, education, or security—continue to marginalize the people. The public, already reeling from military operations and economic hardships, now faces the further privatization of basic services.

POJK: Pak Army launches violent crackdown on students in Rawalakot

In a powerful video message, Shokat Nawaz Mir, a core member of the Pakistan-occupied-Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, voiced his condemnation of the brutal violence inflicted upon students in Rawalakot during a peaceful protest. The students were demonstrating against the Mirpur Board’s unjust marking in the first year part 1 exam results. In an alarming display of occupied-governmental repression, the administration responded with violence, underscoring the ongoing crisis in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir where student rights are routinely trampled.

Students from Rawalakot have issued a three-day ultimatum for their demands to be met, warning that if their voices remain unheard, they will escalate their protests to involve students from across the state.

The protests are not isolated to Rawalakot; student organizations have also taken to the streets in Abbaspur, where demonstrators gathered at Milad Chowk to condemn the occupied-administration’s violent crackdown on unarmed students. The incident highlights the dire state of governance in the region, where the Punjabi Pak Army’s brutal tactics further suppress dissent and silence those advocating for fundamental rights.

Students from Jamia Kashmir University have also condemned the occupied-administration’s actions, calling for an immediate cessation of such low tactics against peaceful students. “We will not tolerate the brutal treatment of our fellow students,” a representative said, vowing to initiate a state-wide protest if the violence continues.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by students in POJK, where the Paki establishment resorts to violence to quell dissent. The failure of the Mirpur Board and the oppressive tactics employed by the Pakistan Army illustrate a broader pattern of neglect and brutality.

Armed assailants attack female deputy commissioner’s vehicle near Zhob

Armed assailants targeted the vehicle of Sherani’s Deputy Commissioner, Sana Mah Jabeen Umrani, as she traveled from Quetta to Sherani. The ambush occurred near Zhob, where the attackers opened fire on her vehicle.

The bullets hit the vehicle, but quick retaliation from security personnel forced the attackers to flee the scene. Levies officials confirmed that the deputy commissioner and her staff escaped the incident unharmed.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and the authorities have launched an investigation.

Pakistan Army launches large-scale operation in Kolwah

In yet another demonstration of its heavy-handed tactics, the Pak Army has launched a large-scale military operation in the Kolwah area of Kech district, Pak-occupied-Balochistan. Since Thursday, there has been a significant movement of troops and vehicles, as well as the deployment of gunship helicopters, signaling an escalation in military activity against the local population.

Reportedly, a large contingent of Pak forces advanced into Kolwah and neighboring areas in several military vehicles. The arrival and departure of three military helicopters have intensified operations in this remote and troubled region.

While the Pak Army remains stationed in multiple locations, occupied-authorities have provided no official details regarding the nature or objectives of the operation. This lack of transparency has raised concerns about the safety of civilians, especially given the Army’s notorious track record in POB, where enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other brutal suppression tactics have been commonplace for decades.

The military’s ongoing presence and actions continue to fuel the resentment of a population that has long resisted Pakistan’s efforts to silence their voices and marginalize their identity.

Civilians caught in crossfire as Pak Army turns POB into a warzone

Four people, including a police officer, were killed, and five others injured in separate incidents of gunfire in Dera Murad Jamali and Khuzdar. These violent events highlight the deepening chaos in a region already destabilized by decades of Pak Army interference and brutality, where even daily activities have become life-threatening for civilians.

In Dera Murad Jamali, unidentified armed men opened fire on a prisoner van at the gate of the District Jail, killing a prisoner and a suspected attacker. The attack left three police officers and another prisoner injured, with the officers’ conditions reported as critical. Heavy police forces were deployed to the scene, swiftly transporting the wounded to Dera Murad Jamali hospital.

Meanwhile, in Khuzdar, at the Jalawan Complex, an exchange of gunfire between the police and alleged robbers left a police officer and a suspected robber dead. One robber was arrested, and a passerby was also injured in the crossfire.

These deadly confrontations come at a time when Pak-occupied-Balochistan is already teetering on the edge of collapse, thanks to the destabilizing role of the Pakistan Army. The military’s oppressive tactics and brutal suppression of dissent have created a hostile environment in the region, where violence is not only directed at occupied-state forces but also spills over into the lives of innocent civilians. The Army’s heavy-handed presence has turned the region into a battleground, where the corrupt establishment launches indiscriminate terror both on civilians and freedom fighters.

These recent incidents underscore the fact that for many in POB, the threat of violence is an everyday reality—whether it comes from the occupied-state, Army-backed-armed groups, or criminals taking advantage of the lawlessness. The region remains a symbol of Pakistan’s forceful occupation, its failed policies, where the military’s unchecked power has not only exacerbated internal strife but also driven the innocent into a cycle of violence from which they cannot escape.

Pak Army tries hard to suppress Pashtun resistance ahead of Jirga

The Punjabi Pak Army has launched a brutal crackdown on Pashtuns who were preparing for a peaceful gathering on the plains of Khyber. The peaceful deliberations, organized by the Pashtun National Jirga/Court (PNC), were met with a violent police crackdown, including excessive force, tear gas shelling, and the destruction of encampments.

The PNC Organizing Committee strongly condemned the actions of the Army and police, saying that the crackdown reflects Pakistan’s deep-seated fear of any form of Pashtun unity. The abduction of the Peshawar coordinator of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is a further indication of the occupied-state’s strategy to silence critical voices.

As Pashtun leaders rally against the oppressive actions of the Paki establishment, Mishar, a key figure in the PNC, announced that the gathering would continue tomorrow, vowing to resist any further attempts to stifle their efforts. “If the police or Army officials dare to come again, we will take up arms against them,” Mishar said.

This heavy-handed response is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, calculated move by the Paki establishment to provoke unrest among Pashtuns. By pushing them towards armed resistance, Pakistan aims to manipulate the narrative on the global stage, portraying itself as a victim of terrorism while seeking aid. The Paki establishment’s ultimate goal is to frame the Pashtun community as insurgents, using these incidents to justify their ongoing military operations under the guise of counter-terrorism.

The timing of these arrests is telling. The Pashtun National Court, a significant political event, is set to take place on October 11, yet the occupied-state is already targeting PTM workers to disrupt any organized efforts for Pashtun self-determination. Meanwhile, the protest planned at D Chowk in Islamabad by other factions—likely tied to the federation’s own agenda—faces no such suppression. This selective enforcement underscores the occupied-state’s willingness to suppress movements that challenge its hegemony, while turning a blind eye to other protests that may align with its interests.

By framing the Pashtuns as a threat, the Punjabi Pak Army seeks to create a façade of legitimacy for its violent suppression, while drawing in international support under the pretext of fighting terrorism. In reality, the occupied-state’s fear lies in the potential unity and power of Pashtun voices—voices that continue to challenge the deeply flawed and oppressive nature of the Paki establishment.

National gathering turns violent as Pak Army shoots & injures Baloch worker

On July 28, 2024, the Baloch Raaji Muchi in Gwadar, intended as a peaceful assembly for Baloch rights, descended into violence, exposing yet again the brutal tactics of the Paki establishment. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee reported that the gathering was violently disrupted by Pak Army, who blocked roads and opened fire on peaceful participants.

During the incident, Abdul Sattar, a 27-year-old laborer from Girisha Nal in Khuzdar, was shot in the leg by Pak forces at the Talar checkpoint, leaving him permanently disabled. The targeting of Abdul Sattar underscores the systematic oppression of the Baloch people, where even those participating in peaceful national events face life-altering violence.

The Committee further highlighted that Abdul Sattar’s condition deteriorated due to road blockades, internet shutdowns, and limited medical assistance, all of which exacerbated his injuries. These actions reflect the occupied-Pak state’s continued neglect of the welfare and basic rights of the Baloch people, where access to healthcare and information is routinely restricted.

Baloch Gathering Met with Gunfire

Adding to the tragedy, Abdul Sattar has been subjected to constant harassment by Paki intelligence agencies. He has been repeatedly summoned for questioning regarding his participation in the national gathering, facing threats to his life and his family’s safety. This harassment is emblematic of the Paki establishment’s broader strategy to silence dissent and intimidate those who dare to demand their rights.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has warned that if any harm comes to Abdul Sattar or his family, the responsibility will lie squarely with the Paki state and its agencies.

While the Pak Army claims to uphold law and order, its actions reveal a colonial mindset aimed at silencing Baloch voices through violence, intimidation, and neglect. The violent crackdown on peaceful assemblies, coupled with harassment of participants, is the strategy to suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Baloch people, who have long been demanding autonomy and respect for their rights.