A head of family, her grand daughter and two other female members of the family have been killed in a raid by Pakistani security forces in Harnai, Balochistan. The security forces have also taken away the only two surviving men of the family.
According to details, Pakistani security forces raided the house of Qaisar Chilgari Marri in Nishpa, Harnai on Monday. The house was located in a remote area as Mr Marri farmed live stock. In the early morning raid Qaisar was killed along with her daughter, daughter in law and 6-year-old grand daughter Naz Bibi.
Two of the men family members, identified as Mohammad Ali Marri and Gul Dad Marri, were arrested and taken away by the security forces. Their whereabouts are still unknown at the time of filing this report.
When TBP asked a local about the names and age of the other persons killed, his reply was: “the whole family has been wiped out, there is no one alive to confirm the details.”
It is not clear what sparked the raid, however, Baloch activists and human rights organisations allege that civilians are targeted by Pakistani forces whenever they are attacked by Baloch armed groups.
A local activist, on condition of anonymity told TBP, that collective punishment has been a routine in Balochistan and today’s “callous and senseless brutality” is just another addition to the long list of human rights violations.
The act of security forces was widely condemned on social media and many activists urged international groups to intervene.
Faiz Baloch, a famous Baloch activist tweeted:
Baloch leader Dr Allah Nazar also tweeted about the incident and alleged that the “Pakistani brutalities continue unabated in Balochistan”.
In a similar military operation in Nishpa in August 2017, nearly 15 persons including women and children were killed. The operation was aided by gunship helicopters, which allegedly “indiscriminately bombarded many houses in the locality”.
Balochistan, which is home to an “independence struggle” has been witness to countless military operations by security forces and attacks by Baloch armed groups in last two decades. Human rights groups and local activists allege Pakistani forces of committing grave human rights violations in the region.