Baloch leaders and political circles commemorated the fifth death anniversary of Dr. Manan Baloch, a doctor-turned-separatist, who was killed in a military raid by the Pakistani forces in Mastung in 2016.
Dr Manan Baloch was a medical officer who later became a towering figure in the Baloch struggle for independence. He also served as the secretary-general of the Baloch National Movement. Analysts have described him as a “great mobilizer” – a charismatic leader who could mobilize his party to hold the peaceful shutter down strikes and convey their message in a non-violent, democratic manner.
Dr. Manan, 48, was killed in a military raid by the Pakistani security forces in Mastung in January of 2016. The forces reportedly attacked the house that he and his companions were staying at. They fought back but were vastly over numbered and therefore killed by the security forces.
Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch, leader of the Balochistan Liberation Front, remembered his companion on his fifth death anniversary, saying that he was a “man of dignity.” “I pay rich tributes to Dr. Mannan Baloch, who was a man of dignity. He was my classmate and college fellow in Kech and BMC respectively. Apart from being my relative, he was also an ideological leader of our freedom struggle”, he said.
Dr. Allah Nazar also shed some light on the life of his companion, saying that Dr. Manan lived a “tough life.” His mother had died when he was a child, and his father had been killed in 1986 when he was in high school. Dr. Manan then became a teacher for years but also continued his studies. He finally became a medical officer, but then left his profession, refusing to be a Pakistani government employee, and joined the Baloch freedom movement.
“Deep love and great respect for Mannan Jan. we aim to follow his footsteps either to be martyrs or be free”, Dr. Allah Nazar concluded.
Akhtar Nadeem Baloch, a pro-independence leader associated with the BLF, also paid tribute to Dr Manan Baloch. Taking to Twitter, he said that: “Shaheed Dr. Mannan preached for political struggle as well as encouraged the Baloch and other oppressed nations’ youth that freedom requires sacrifices of their youth and valuable time. As a result of his hard work and leadership, today all freedom lovers are moving towards unity.”
Dil Murad Baloch, the central information and cultural secretary of the Baloch National Movement, also paid his tributes to Dr. Manan Baloch. “The departure is a veracity, you are still alive as an ideology which always motivates and makes us able to strive for freedom without any hesitation”, he said.
He further said that Dr. Manan Baloch has become an ideology today, and ideologies can never be killed. In their attempts to eradicate ideologies, numerous forces have been wiped off from the face of the earth. He said that Dr. Manan was a “public leader” and was always present among the people.
“Dr. Mannan Baloch was a seasoned and dynamic politician, intellectual and committed nationalist, and a highly educated leader. He worked tirelessly to nurture the national movement across Balochistan. There is no area of Balochistan where Dr Mannan Baloch has not conveyed the message of independence and has not worked for the national movement”, he said.
Dil Murad Baloch said that Dr. Manan and his fallen companions became “immortal” by “sacrificing” themselves for the “freedom of the motherland.” “His sacrifice is a beacon in the journey of Baloch national liberation”, he concluded.
Khalil Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch National Movement, also paid his tributes to his fallen companion. He said that leaders like Dr. Manan Baloch are born once in a century. He and his companion were slain by the Pakistani security forces when they were on an organizational visit to Mastung.
He said that the Pakistani state had lost ground to Dr. Manan’s political struggle, and therefore resorted to killing him. His “martyrdom” is one of the biggest loses to the Baloch freedom movement. He was an educated leader, an intellectual and a practical man.
Khalil Baloch further added that BNM was the utmost priority of Dr. Manan Baloch, and he died while he was conducting the party’s activities. He said that after the death of Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, Dr. Manan played a pivotal role in resuscitating the party. Owing to his struggle, the Baloch National Movement is now playing a crucial role in and out of Balochistan in the Baloch freedom movement.