Written By: Shakoor Baloch
Baloch have been kept forced slaves since their motherland Balochistan was occupied by foreign Armies. In 1947 when Balochistan got independence and it stayed independent for nine months, Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted Khan of Kalat to accede to Pakistan. The Khan sought the advice of the Baloch parliament. The House of Lords as well as the House of Commons advised the Khan against accession to Pakistan. The parliament believed that being an independent country, with a distinct culture and language, Balochistan should not accede to Pakistan merely on religious grounds. On March 27, 1948 Pakistan invaded Balochistan whereupon the Khan was forced to sign the treaty of accession.
The Baloch did not want it. Accession to Pakistan was secured under duress. The Baloch nation has refused to accept the forced accession. We believe we are an occupied land. We view Pakistan as an occupying force.
Since occupation Of Balochistan, disappearances of political activists and political assassinations have become a norm. Thousands have gone missing or been killed. For the last 70 years, extra-judicial killings have been a routine. However, nobody has taken any notice. This is indeed sad. When Kosovo was subjected to Serbian oppression, the European Union and rest of the world came to Kosovo’s rescue. Not merely Serbian atrocities were checked, but an army was also dispatched to guard Kosovo against Serbia. Likewise, the Australian army arrived to defend East Timor against Indonesia. Balochistan, however, is being ignored. Through its fanatic groups, Pakistan is blackmailing the Baloch people. Also, it is blackmailing civilized European countries so that these countries do not support the Baloch cause. Since then Baloch are drastically fighting against Pakistan to get back their independent country Balochistan.
Since the occupation the Baloch have celebrated the religious festivals like Eid Ul Adha and Eid Ul Fitar with austerity and simplicity. On the other hand thousands of common Baloch and political workers are missing since years, therefore, their family members never celebrate the religious festivals. Instead they stage demonstrations and organize processions on Eid Days because they have nothing to rejoice on this occasion of Eid Ul Adha as their miseries are far from ending. Such auspicious moments like Eid of Sacrifice further aggravate their pain when they think of their beloved and dear ones.
Many of the disappeared persons have been killed and dumped, whereas, others are missing without any trace. Most of them are alleged to be “kidnapped” by secret agencies due to their alleged involvement in independence movement of Balochistan while security forces deny the allegations and show ignorance. The members of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, an organisation comprised of family members of missing activists, have traveled to all major cities and held press conferences for the recovery of missing persons. They even knocked the door of Supreme Court of Pakistan several times to find clues about the whereabouts of the lost ones. VBMP sent letters to Ex-Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Ex-Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch and other national and international humanitarian organizations to highlight the troubles of those who continue to wait for the arrival of their dear ones. However, they have received no positive indications but only bullet riddled and decomposed dead bodies. Even the Long March of VBMP in the supervision of Mama Qadeer from Quetta to Islamabad brought no progress. It looks like all the institutions of Pakistan are hand in gloves in this matter.
The Families of missing persons are still looking for justice. They have now lost hopes from Chief Justice of Pakistan because the most powerful chief justice of Pakistan Chaudhery Iftikhar too failed to recover the Baloch missing persons. The extra judicial arrests, abductions and killings persist even today.
The Baloch are fighting for their independence and they think many other Eids are to come but the mother land must be free and independent. The families of missing persons and other Baloch are committed to celebrate Eid festivals with great joy, pleasure, ecstasy and happiness after they get back their independence from occupant Pakistan.