“Kabir”: the Stone pelters of Balochistan.
Written by Nadir Baloch.
The Balochistan Post
The land of minerals and natural resources Balochistan is completing its 72 years in occupation. The rich land of the poor Baloch nation has a coastline of 750 km with deep sea near the Arabian Sea. The territory is bordering with Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. 27 March 1948 brought the curse of slavery upon the Baloch Nation in the form of a forced annexation of Kalat state by the forces left behind by British colonizers.
The resistance initiated back then by Agha Abdul Kareem 1948, followed by Babu Nauroz 1968, General Sher Muhammad Marri, Lawang Khan Mengal 1970s, Balach Marri, Akbar Bugti, and Aslam Baloch, to this day continues in efforts to regain the status of 1857 of sovereign Balochistan. Many refer to Balochistan as a Black hole of secrets, what happens in Balochistan is often concealed by a complete media blackout. It is this very reason that has left the International community in a state of unawareness about the realities of the region and more importantly the miseries of the Baloch people.
Stone pelting is a weak resistance against an oppressor by the oppressed. This is human behavior that shows the unwillingness and the unacceptance of the local population against the illegal occupation. The Baloch political and social activists play an active role by sharing information and spreading awareness through political and peaceful means, for which their voices are suppressed, souls disappeared and families tortured in every corner of the Balochistan. In the occupied land of Balochistan, the stone pelting take place when the fully armed regular army and frontier corps try to stop the peaceful protests of local public gatherings for demands like freedom, right to self-determination and even for Roads, water, electricity, or for the safe recovery of missing persons.
There have been numerous incidents where peaceful protesters who have merely voiced their demands have been made victims of enforced disappearances and brutal torture such as Yasmeen, the martyrs of Pasni, where long-range G3 automatic rifles were used against peaceful protesters, however, none of the incidents were ever investigated.
Ghos Baksh Muhammad Shai, Kabir Baloch’s father was a political activist during Bhutto’s Regime; he was shot on Seerat chowk of Khuzdar city when students of BSO were peacefully protesting against the removal of the democratically elected government of veteran Baloch Leader Sardar Atta Ullah Mengal.
Mr. Baksh never healed, he lost his eyesight, spent his remaining life as a psychological patient. This family of stone pelters faced heinous crimes of state brutality when Waheed Baloch the younger brother of Missing Kabir Baloch was shot dead by a state-backed death squad in 2012 along with his friend Salman Baloch.
Kabeer Baloch, Attullah & Mushtaq Baloch abducted by security agencies in front of the civil court on 27 March 2009 from khuzdar, today marks 10 years since they were taken away, 10 years in dungeons. The FIR (First Investigation Report) had been launched in a local police station but in Balochistan, the men without uniforms are much powerful than the ones in uniform hence the police never looked into the matter.
The family and mother of the victim have protested in several cities on different occasions for many years from Quetta to Khuzdar to Pakistan’s so-called city of lights Karachi, only to return back to the darkness that haunts them, a fate that brings unimaginable pain. The Stone Pelters (Voices) of Balochistan need justice, the situation is getting worse as the state of Pakistan has declared war on innocent youths of colleges and schools.
The conflict has shaped into one that is being considered genocide by the menu. The alarming situation needs voices and efforts by the international community to stop the atrocities. Activists, like Kabir, Atta Ullah, and Mushtaq Baloch need our voices and they need it now, as the dungeons that hold them are voiceless.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Balochistan Post.