A youth was gunned down on Thursday in Panjgur by unknown assailants in the broad daylight. The youth, later identified as Dad Jan Baloch, was a student and a footballer who was sitting in his shop when the assailants opened fire on him and killed him. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and spurred waves of condemnation and demonstrations. Protestors in Panjgur and other areas came out on roads to demand justice for the slain Dad Jan Baloch. The family members have also demanded justice and blamed an alleged state-backed “death squad” member for the murder of Dad Jan Baloch.
The family members of the slain youth held a press conference in Panjgur on Sunday and demanded justice. They were joined by human rights activists, social and political workers and the general public. The family members of Dad Jan Baloch said that we do not share any personal enmity with anyone. They said that other members of our family, Sagheer Baloch and Murtaza Baloch, were also killed in cold blood. The family members said that the current situation and tight security in Panjgur has made it impossible for the common folk to carry even a dagger on themselves. But some men armed with high-end weapons can roam around the city and kill innocent civilians with the utmost impunity, they said.
The family members demanded justice for the slain Dad Jan Baloch and said that the government must apprehend the murderers of Dad Jan Baloch and bring them to justice. They appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Deputy Commissioner Panjgur and the inspector general of the police in this regard.
Other speakers said that the death squads – local militias allegedly comprising hardened criminals who work under the auspice of Pakistan’s secret services – have a free hand in Panjgur. They said that the death squads are involved in all sorts of crimes like enforced disappearances, kill-and-dumps, drug trafficking, burglaries and ransom kidnapping. They appealed to the rights groups and political parties to raise their voice against the death squads operating in Balochistan.
Baloch Yakjehti Committee condemned the killing of Dad Jan Baloch in a media statement and said that the local administration has become a silent spectator. BYC said that the army has paralyzed the local administration throughout Balochistan – state-sponsored hardened criminals are involved in all sorts of crimes but the administration cannot do anything to put an end to it. The group said that the entire Balochistan has become a no-go area – it has been left to the mercy of army who is doing whatever it sees fit.
BYC said that the killers of Dad Jan Baloch are above the law – they cannot be held accountable for their actions because they enjoy the government’s support. Innocent civilians in Panjgur have been targeted in the past, but no government institution has raised a finger to put an end to it. The negligence has caused the spread of instability and lawlessness in Balochistan, the group said.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee expressed sympathy with the family members of the slain Dad Jan Baloch and said that BYC will support them in their struggle for justice.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee also held a demonstration in Islamabad against the killing of Dad Jan Baloch and driver Hameedullah Baloch in Nokkundi. Human rights activists, political and social workers and a large number of students joined the protest and demanded justice for Dad Jan Baloch.
The demonstrators said that lawlessness pervades throughout Balochistan. The security forces and their trained militias are involved in human rights violations and crimes. The demonstrators said that Dad Jan Baloch was killed with impunity in broad daylight. They said that political resistance is the only option left at our disposal – we will always raise our voices against the injustices inflicted on our people.
The demonstrators said that the killing of drivers in Chaghi is the continuation of colonial policies of the Pakistani state. Since day one, the Pakistani state has used violence as the only solution to the Baloch problem. The demonstrators announced that they would carry out social media campaign and demonstrations in other cities.
They demanded that the Nokkundi incident and the Panjgur incident must be thoroughly investigated and the culprits must be brought to justice.