A significant rally unfolded in Turbat city today (on Tuesday) as locals, led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), took to the streets, protesting the murder of Abdul Rauf, an educator at Bolan School in Turbat.
The demonstration began at Bolan School, where Abdul Rauf taught, proceeding towards the city’s prominent Shaheed Fida Ahmed Chowk. Youngsters, including a noticeable number of women, displayed placards calling for justice.
•Jirga’s Role Questioned
While the primary focus of the rally was to condemn Rauf’s killing, there was evident concern regarding the role of the Religious Jirga. Accusations were rife that the Jirga had some involvement in Rauf’s tragic death. Protesters pointedly questioned, “With existing national institutions, what gives a cleric-led tribunal such unbridled power?” Reflecting a sentiment that the Jirga should be held accountable.
•Documenting the Dissent: A Revealing Pamphlet
In a bid to spread their message, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) distributed pamphlets titled, “The Murder of Rauf Baloch and Various State Policies.” This document aimed to underline what the committee views as the state’s systematic campaign against the Baloch people.
Highlighting the increasing enforced disappearances, it also drew attention to the fatal targeting of Prominent Baloch figures. The pamphlet made a stark note of Rauf’s murder, positioning it as a concerning shift from previous norms, marking the first instance where alleged state-backed religious extremists had openly assassinated an educator in Turbat on blasphemy charges.
•Balochistan’s Secular Stance
The pamphlet emphasized Balochistan’s historical secularism, suggesting that despite the rise of religious radicalism in Pakistan, Balochistan has remained a beacon of religious coexistence. The document raised concerns over the state’s alleged strategy of exploiting religious groups in a bid to undermine the Baloch movement for independence and disrupt its traditionally secular socio-political fabric.
Of particular note was the condemnation of religious extremists who, according to the document, have targeted Baloch customs and traditions. The burning of girls’ schools in Panjgur was presented as a manifestation of this larger agenda to distort Baloch culture under religious pretenses.
•Echoes from the Past: Similar Killings Recalled
The pamphlet drew parallels to past incidents where prominent Baloch figures were targeted under religious pretexts. Listing instances like the deaths of Zahid Askani, Professor Saba Dashtiyari, and Abdul Razzaq, the document implied state complicity and manipulation of religious narratives.
Closing its message, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s pamphlet implored the Baloch nation to remain vigilant against attempts to introduce religious extremism. It pressed for the Baloch society to recognize these alleged tactics and to rally against them, maintaining the region’s long-standing values.