Executive Summary

Against the backdrop of last week whooping violence, the week in focus witnessed a fragile lull in violence. An explosion near the Frontier Corps– (FC) fort in Dera Bugti on Monday, September 26 resulted in injuring 10 FC personnel.

Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Abdul Salam was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Khuzdar on Wednesday, September 28. Two armed men riding a motorbike sprayed bullets on Salam vehicle, injuring him and his daughter. Later on, both the victims were rushed to the hospital, where Salam succumbed to his injuries. In sum, five people fell prey to the ongoing spate of violence across the province.

The newly appointed head of the commission on missing persons, Justice ® Javed Iqbal said on Monday, September 26 that the commission tasked to recover missing persons will also investigate cases of mutilated bodies which have been surfacing in Balochistan. Addressing the lawyers at Balochistan High Court Bar Association, he emphasized that we have to prepare an authentic list of missing persons firstly, since earlier lists also carry the names of those who are jailed or engaged in fighting in Afghanistan.

Balochistan High Court criticized on September 27, the provincial home department report regarding last week sectarian attack in Mastung and observed that ‘Balochistan government is pushing the province towards destruction and it should clarify its policy.’ Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President, Asma Jehangir said on Wednesday, September 28 that Balochistan situation has been deteriorating since the day security forces were given authority to make decisions for the province.

Week in Review

a) Acts of Terrorism, Subversion and Abduction

• At least 10 FC men injured in an explosion near the FC fort in Dera Bugti on Monday, September 26. According to an FC official, acting on a tip-off, FC personnel seized an explosive device near the FC fort in Dera Bugti. ‘It went off, injuring 10 personnel. All injured are in stable condition and have been discharged from the hospital,’ said an FC spokesperson.

• According to Balochistan Levies, three NATO oil tankers were on their way to Kandahar from Karachi when unknown armed men fired upon them near Dasht area in Mastung district on Tuesday, September 27. As a result, oil tankers were totally destroyed, injuring drivers badly.

• BNP leader Abdul Salam was gunned down by unidentified men in Khuzdar on September 28. Two armed men riding a motorbike opened indiscriminate fire on Salam vehicle, injuring him and his daughter. Both the victims were taken to the hospital, where Salam was pronounced dead, while his daughter is in critical condition. Salam was a prominent lawyer of Khuzdar.

• Three people were killed and four others injured during oil and gas exploration in Harnai district, Balochistan on Wednesday, September 28. Earlier, militants fired at the men from a mountain in Shagla area of Harnai district. The slain include two officials from BGP Oil and Gas Services Company and one security guard. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and its spokesperson said his group will continue to target people involved in exploration of oil and gas in any part of Balochistan.

• One person was killed on Thursday when a bomb disposal unit was busy in defusing an explosive device planted near a convoy of NATO tankers in Chaman, a security official said on September 29.

• At least two people were injured when unknown assailants opened fire at the Quetta Express near Dera Murad Jamali on Sunday, October 2. According to reports, unknown men opened fire on the Quetta Express that was on its way to Quetta near Mangoli Station. As a result of the shooting, a security guard and a helper were injured. The assailants managed to escape safely, later on.

b) Political Front
Hearing in the suo motu notice of Matsung incident took place at the divisional bench of the Balochistan High Court on Monday, September 26. Advocate General of Balochistan, Mr Amanullah Kanrani appeared before the bench and submitted a report on behalf of the Balochistan government. Kanrani added that the strength of security officials has been increased in the province to address the security situation. Kanrani also told the court that in future no pilgrim will go to Iran without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the home department of the province. After the issuance of NoC, adequate security arrangement will be made for the pilgrims, he said.
The commission tasked to recover missing persons will also investigate cases of mutilated bodies which have been surfacing in Balochistan, said Justice ® Javed Iqbal, the newly appointed head of the commission, on Monday, September 26. Talking to reporters after addressing the lawyers at the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Iqbal said ‘We first have to prepare an authentic list of missing persons since those who were jailed or engaged in fighting in Afghanistan have also been included.’ Justice ® Iqbal said the commission had recovered 324 missing persons in the past four years. ‘Most of the cases were reported in Balochistan and the commission will do its utmost to trace missing persons,’ he added.
The Balochistan High Court criticized on September 27 the provincial home department report on the sectarian attack in Mastung and said the Balochistan government is pushing the province towards destruction and should ‘clarify its policy’ in this regard.
President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Asma Jehangir said on Wednesday, September 28 that security situation in Balochistan has been deteriorating since the day security forces were given control of the province. Addressing members of the Balochistan High Court Bar, Jahangir said ‘Divisions have been created amongst people as sectarian killings, recoveries of mutilated bodies and target killing of Punjabi speaking people’ are order of the day in the province. Meanwhile, Maulana Abdul Ghafour Haideri of JUI-F said on Friday, September 30 that the recovery of mutilated bodies is fueling resentment among the people of Balochistan. He was speaking at a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights. The meeting reviewed the issue of missing persons in Balochistan. Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafour Haideri said any person involved in criminal activities must be presented before the court.
The Balochistan Union of Journalists staged a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club on Saturday, October 1 to protest against the threats to media persons from militants. Dozens of journalists from print and electronic media took part in the demonstration. The speakers came down hard on the government for ‘its failure to curtail the killing of media persons in the province.’

c) Economic Front
Kalat is one of the coldest cities in Balochistan where temperatures drop to 10 to 17 degrees below the freezing point during winters. Most of the people affected by the floods in the district moved to their relatives in neighboring towns and villages. There are 30 to 40 families still living in tents provided by the government and some non-governmental organizations. Around 582 houses were completely damaged, while 2,168 houses were partially damaged when flash floods triggered by torrential rains hit the district earlier this month. Provincial Disaster Management Authority sent only six trucks of relief goods to Kalat. The affected families claim the government provided insufficient food and other commodities. ‘Every family was given five kilograms of rice, two of pulses and some medicines. These were not enough for even a week,’ said Mohammad Anwar, a local flood victim on September 29. Moreover, Balochistan and Sindh entered into a row over water share, with the former accusing Sindh of not providing it its due share in the recent Kharif season. The allegation was leveled at a meeting of the Indus River.

1. Restive frontiers: 10 FC personnel injured in Dera Bugti blast–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/261226/restive-frontiers-10-fc-personnel-injured-in-dera-bugti-blast/
2. Three NATO oil tankers torched in Balochistan ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/261537/three-nato-oil-tankers-torched-in-balochistan/
3. BNP leader Abdul Salam killed in Khuzdar ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/262445/bnp-leader-abdul-salam-killed-in-khuzdar/
4. Baloch insurgency: Militants kill three for oil and gas exploration–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/262892/baloch-insurgency-militants-kill-three-for-oil-and-gas-exploration/
5. One killed in attempt to defuse bomb targeting NATO tankers–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/263079/one-killed-in-attempt-to-defuse-bomb-targeting-nato-tankers/
6. Assailants open fire at Quetta Express, 2 injured–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/265156/assailants-open-fire-at-quetta-express-2-injured/
7. Mastung attack: Pilgrims going to Iran must obtain NoC, AG tells judge–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/260707/pilgrims-going-to-iran-must-obtain-noc-ag-tells-judge/
8. Commission to also probe recovery of mutilated bodies–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/261221/commission-to-also-probe-recovery-of-mutilated-bodies/
9. Suo motu hearing: Court criticises Mastung attack report–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/261217/suo-motu-hearing-court-criticises-mastung-attack-report/
10. Raising alarm: ¿Balochistan in a dangerous position–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/262096/raising-alarm-balochistan-in-a-dangerous-position/
11. Atrocities in Balochistan fuel resentment: Haideri–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/263917/atrocities-in-balochistan-fuel-resentment-haideri/
12. Threats from militants: Journalists stage rally in Quetta–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/265038/threats-from-militants-journalists-stage-rally-in-quetta/
    Kalat homeless brace for harsher winters–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/262911/kalats-homeless-brace-for-harsher-winters/