The Dungeons of Islamic State
Liaqat Baloch
The Balochistan Post
This article is about a friend of mine who spent time in torture cells of so-called Pakistani state.
He said I am a slave, I am the slave of power and of the barbarians who are terrorists and provide sanctuaries to the terrorists. I am now a slave of a country, that is run by the assets and resources of other’s. I am a stranger in my own motherland. I am poor but how should I consider myself a poor person when I am son of a land where the golds and other precious resources are obtained and supplied to the world. I am not the only slave here. Shepards, teachers, philosopher and politicians are all slaves here, who are shackled in the chains of slavery.
I spent 5 months in the dungeons of Pakistani army. I was tortured several times by FC who called me an agent of Indian RAW. When I was caught, I was moved to a dungeon in Mashkay’s main army camp located in Mandeel. I could observe the death was near to me. My hands were tied at my back. I could smell fresh blood. The place reeked of death, the brutal death.
On the very first day a tall officer came into the room along with two soldiers. They had already made up their minds that I was a member of Balochistan Liberation Front. I was asked questions:
1) Who supplies ration to Baloch fighters?
2) Who gives them information about movement of our convoys?
3) Who are the leading operational commanders in the area?
4) What are the locations of camps in mountains?
5) Who provides them arms and ammunitions?
I told them that I am only a poor man who sells wood on his camel to support the family. They did not like my reply and tortured me until I fainted. I woke up later in a different room, without knowing how long I was unconscious for. I was then moved back to the torture cell and was tortured again.
I was finally moved to a dark room, where I spent almost a month. Every day I would be taken to be tortured. They asked me to give information about one person or a ammunition cache an they would release me. My answer remained the same that I do not know any body and I do not belong to any organisation. However, they tried every tricks to obtain ‘secret information’ from me. I knew even a slightest information would have been a great danger to another Baloch brother. I decided that I would rather die than harming anyone else.
One day they brought Master Rehmatullah, who was later killed by Baloch fighters, into the camps. He asked me to give information about the camps of Baloch fighters. Later they brought Ashraf, who was also killed by Baloch fighters. He told the major that I and my brothers were involved in Baloch national struggle. He even swore on Holy Quran. I denied, which the soldiers did not like and rubbed salt on my open wounds. This was very painful, however, my answer remained the same ‘I don’t know anything’.
I was also electrocuted several times. I was about to loose my mind, when three more abductees were brought to the same torture cells. After seeing me, they envisaged their time in the torture cells and were too concerned. One of them was later killed in custody.
One day they took us to the back of the camp and we were ordered to dig our own graves. A soldier told us in Brahvi that we are going to be killed. We refused to do the task but they bolted their guns and forced us to continue digging. At that point I knew their can not be a bigger slave than somebody who digs their own grave. I started crying and the faces of my child and wife came in my mind. We were digging our graves an the soldiers were laughing and singing. My heart filled with anger. I promised myself that if by any chance I survived this I will take my revenge. In an unexpected, turn of events a soldier came and said you guys are safe now. We were taken back to the dark room and later some body came and said you will be released today. I had already been in the dungeons for five years. A soldier gave me a haircut. I was later freed without shoes. That day I decided I will fight against the slavery and for the freedom of my motherland. Today I am fighting for all those who languish in torture cells. One day we will all be free.