Executive Summary

The security situation in Balochistan continues to aggravate with the passage of time. As dead bodies of political workers, frequent episodes of target and sectarian killings, bomb blasts and abductions relentlessly infect the province. The hallmark of the week was the target killing of laborers who were engaged in construction work near Kech in the district of Turbat, by the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), which killed 7 laborers. In sum, 17 people lost their lives in different incidents of violence across the province.

ANP leader and Senator Afrasiab Khattak, who is also chairman functional committee of senate on human rights, condemned the worst law and order in Balochistan and said if grievances of Balochis were not taken seriously, they will definitely look up to others for help.

Pakistan top leadership strongly condemned US Congress resolution on Balochistan and termed it as direct intervention in Pakistan internal affairs. Balochistan is a part of Pakistan and it has its own independent provincial assembly and has due representation in the Parliament of Pakistan.

Nature of Incidents	Dead FC Army Civilian			Injured
Target killings	0	0	8	2
Natural incidents	0	0	2	0
Bomb blasts+ landmine explosion	2	0	2	21
Militants	2	0	0	2
Dead bodies found	0	0	1	0
Total	17			25

Week in Review

a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction

├╝ According to security officials, some unidentified persons had planted explosives on a motorcycle and parked it at the road near Bakra Mandi in Dera Murad Jamali on February 13. The device was detonated as a police van passed by the area, killing two children at the spot while twelve others, including two policemen, sustained injuries. No group has taken responsibility for the incident.[1]

├╝ The dead body of missing Baloch Republican Party (BRP) leader Sangat Sana was found dumped near Turbat on February 13. According to Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organization working for the recovery of Baloch missing persons, Sana was missing since December 8, 2008. He was also the Ex- chairman of Baloch Student Organization (BSO-Azad).[2]

├╝ According to security officials, a group of armed men with automatic weapons surrounded the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) check post near Chatter area in district Nasirabad on February 13 and opened fire. After heavy exchange of fire Sub-Inspector BC Wahid Bhaksh and Constable Baddar Uddin received multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot, while two other officers were seriously wounded. No group has taken responsibility for the incident.[3]

├╝ According to sources, laborers were engaged in construction work in Buleid mountainous area in Turbat Kech district on February 15 when a group of armed men opened indiscriminate fire on them. The incident resulted in the killing of at least seven people while two others were injured. The assailants managed to escape from the scene. Banned outfit the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility for the attack.[4]

├╝ The Functional Committee of Senate on Human Rights rejected a report on February 15 presented by the Provincial Home Department over law and order situation and human rights violations in Balochistan. The committee expressed serious concerns over the recovery of mutilated bodies of missing persons, targeted killing of laborers, doctors, teachers and an increasing number of kidnappings for ransom in the province. Chairman of the committee Senator Afrasiab Khattak said that the recovery of mutilated bodies, gave a message that the state and its institutions did not consider them their own people but rather their enemy. ‘The people will definitely look up to others for help if they are continuously pushed against the wall.’ The committee suggested that laws should be introduced to curtail the power and influence of security agencies and they should be brought under parliamentary control.[5]

├╝ A complete shutter down strike observed in Baloch dominated parts of Balochistan for the third consecutive day on February 16 to protest the murder of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) leader Sangat Sana Baloch. The strike had been called by the BRP, Baloch National Movement (BNM) and Baloch Students Organisation (BSO-Azad). Other nationalist parties had supported their shutter down call. Meanwhile, unknown assailants shot dead a well known trader Hafiz Abdul Qader Gulamani in Jilani Chowk, Khuzdar district for unknown reason.[6]

├╝ A tragedy was luckily averted as explosive materials planted in a car on Saryab road failed to explode on February 16. Police and other security forces were alerted when the detonator failed to ignite 10 kilograms of explosive material and two mortar shells planted in a car parked near the Excise Office.[7]

├╝ The annual Sibi mela witnessed a blast and panic this year when an improvised explosive device blew up at the fair ground on February 16. However, no casualty was reported.[8]

├╝ Protests against kidnappings and killings continued for fourth day in Quetta, with business and trade activities remaining closed on February 17. The strike was called by government allies Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) and Awami National Party (ANP), to protest against the kidnapping of Secretary General of Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Quetta chapter Abdul Sadiq Norzai on Thursday.[9]

├╝ Cold weather and non-availability of gas resulted in the death of two children identified as Six-year-old Manzoor and four-year-old Karim in Khilji Colony on the outskirts of Quetta on Saturday, February 18.[10]

├╝ Unidentified men targeted a security forces vehicle with a remote- controlled bomb in Dera Bugti on Saturday, February 18 and killed at least two security personnel while nine others sustained injuries. Banned outfit Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the incident.[11]

b) Political Front

Lawmakers demonstrated their protests in the parliament as the National Assembly resumed its debate on disturbances in Balochistan, which they felt ‘is a direct threat to national sovereignty.’ Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Mir Lashkari Raisani said on February 13: ‘There is a long list of discrepancies not addressed yet despite the prime minister renewed assurances to hold talks with disgruntled Baloch leaders.’[12]

United states ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter, while talking to media on February 13 said that his country was very much concerned about the human rights violation in Balochistan and that ‘there is no doubt that people in Balochistan are facing human rights abuses’. He maintained that the US administration stance will remain unchanged vis-à-vis Balochistan and the US administration shall take up this alarming issue with Pakistani leaders.[13]

The Election Commission Balochistan (ECB) accepted the nomination papers of 25 candidates for upper house election for ulemas, technocrats, minorities and reserved women seats. The Commission also rejected nomination papers of five candidates on February 17. The seats include 12 reserved for women, 7 for Ulemas and technocrats, and 5 for minorities.[14]

Criticizing heavily a US Congressman introduction of a resolution on Balochistan, the Pakistani Embassy rejected the move as ‘ill-informed and unacceptable’ and termed it direct interference in Pakistan internal affairs on February 18.[15]

c) Social Front

The participants at the conference held jointly by the Action Committee of non-profit organizations and Karachi Press Club on the National Women Day, observed that the concerns of Baloch women can only be resolved if the province issues are addressed. The Aurat Foundation resident director, Mehnaz Rehman, said that the missing persons issue and target killings have taken a toll on the Baloch women too, both physically and mentally. They also criticized the use of force by the government in Balochistan.[16]

d) Economic Front

Iranian Consul General Seyad Hussan Yahyavi said that Iran approved a project which will provide 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Balochistan through the Zahedan-Quetta transmission line. Addressing a news conference on the eve of the Iranian revolution anniversary at the Iranian Consulate here, Yahyavi said on February 15: ‘Iran is already supplying power to various townships that share borders with Iran in Pakistani Balochistan. Iran started the project by supplying 1,000 MW of electricity to Quetta through Taftan, the only legal crossing and trade point with Iran.’[17]

[1]Motorcycle bomb kills two in Dera Murad Jamali–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/335775/motorcycle-bomb-kills-two-in-dera-murad-jamali/

[2]Body of missing BRP leader found near Turbat–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/335821/body-of-missing-brp-leader-found-near-turbat/

[3]Armed men attack Balochistan check post, kill 2 personnel–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/335844/armed-men-attack-balochistan-check-post-kill-2-personnel/

[4]Turbat attack leaves 5 dead–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/336321/turbat-attack-leaves-5-dead/

[5]Balochistan will look to foreigners if rights are trampled by their own people: Khattak–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/336917/senate-committee-discusses-balochistan-human-rights-issues/

[6]Balochistan shut down for third day to protest target killing of political leaders–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/337464/balochistan-shut-for-a-third-day-to-protest-target-killing-of-political-leaders/

[7]Tragedy averted: Militants undone as planted explosives fail to detonate–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/337433/tragedy-averted-militants-undone-as-planted-explosives-fail-to-detonate

[8]Explosion in Sibi Mela, casualties feared–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/337487/many-injured-in-sibi-mela-explosion/

[9]As kidnappings continue in Balochistan, so do the shutter down strikes–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/337994/as-kidnappings-continue-in-balochistan-so-do-the-shutter-down-strikes/

[10]Cold weather claims lives of two children in Quetta–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/338322/cold-weather-claims-lives-of-two-children-in-quetta/

[11]Blast kills two security personnel in Dera Bugti–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/338317/blast-kills-two-security-personnel-in-dera-bugti/

[12]Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan: Lawmakers begin to question govt sincerity–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/335609/aghaz-e-haqooq-e-balochistan-lawmakers-begin-to-question-govts-sincerity/
[13]US concerned about rights abuses in Balochistan: Munter–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/335644/us-concerned-about-rights-abuses-in-balochistan-munter/
[14]Nomination papers of 25 candidates accepted: Election Commission Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/337889/nomination-papers-of-25-candidates-accepted-election-commission-balochistan/
[15]US Congressman’s Balochistan resolution ill-informed, unacceptable’–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/338279/us-congressmans-balochistan-resolution-ill-informed-unacceptable/
[16]Baloch women say they want to go to universities and not fear for their lives–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/336054/letters-from-balochistan-baloch-women-say-they-want-to-go-to-universities-and-not-fear-for-their-lives/
[17]Meeting energy needs: Iran approves electricity project for Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/336617/meeting-energy-needs-iran-approves-electricity-project-for-balochistan/