Chairman of the World Baloch Organization Javed Mengal said in a media statement that the killing of Faizan Jattak at the hands of Quetta police is the continuation of the state’s barbarity. He said the Baloch must unite to reestablish their rulership in Balochistan and for the preservation of their identity and culture.
Faizan Jattak, a young Baloch student, was killed by the Eagle Squad of the Quetta police on Wednesday. Jattak was in a car with his brother and a friend when the police opened fire on the vehicle. Faizan was killed at the scene, and his brother and the friend were wounded.
Faizan’s family said that he was on his way home when the police opened fire on the vehicle. A bullet pierced through Faizan’s neck and he died within minutes. The other two were wounded.
Inspector General of the Quetta police took notice of the incident, calling it “heart-wrenching.” He directed the authorities to investigate the killing.
Reacting to Faizan’s killing, Javed Mengal said that his murder is the continuation of the seventy-three-year-old barbarity of the Pakistani state in Balochistan. He said that the Pakistani intelligence agencies and security forces have been involved in similar incidents in the past. They brutally murdered Hayat Baloch in front of his parents in Turbat, and instead of investigating the killing and bringing the culprit to justice, the authorities deliberately whitewashed the incident.
He said that the forces then sexually assaulted a minor. All these incidents are the direct result of the prejudicial mentality of the Pakistani state towards Balochistan.
Mengal said that the Pakistani military is repeating what it did with Bangladesh — this time in Balochistan. He said that the medals bedecking the uniforms of Pakistani generals are rewards for the mass murder of innocent Baloch, Sindhi and Pashtun civilians.
Referring to the death squads, he said that some individuals are demonstrating their so-called patriotism towards Pakistan by working against the Baloch cause. These people should know that they are just pawns — the state will do away with them once their motives are achieved, he said.
Mengal said that the Baloch must unite to reestablish their rule in Balochistan. Otherwise similar incidents of state brutality will continue to surface.
Advocate Sajid Tareen of the Balochistan National Party also condemned the killing of Faizan Jattak, calling it “police hooliganism.” He said that by killing an innocent youth, the law keepers have shattered the very law they are supposed to protect. He urged the government to take notice of the incident and bring the culprits to justice.
Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langau also took notice of the incident and directed IG Quetta police to present the preliminary report of the incident. He said that the police personnel involved in the killing have been apprehended and a committee had been established to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Langau said that the culprits will be brought to justice so that similar incidents do not occur in the future.