The spiraling violence continued to dominate the security landscape of Balochistan. The week in focus witnessed gruesome episodes of militant, sectarian, and target killings in the province. The hallmark of the week was an ambush by the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) on a security check post in the Sui area of Dera Bugti, on January 26, killing five security personnel. In sum, 15 people lost their lives during different incidents of violence across the province.

Local journalists termed Balochistan as the second most dangerous place after Afghanistan for journalists, since there are no security arrangements for them and they work under constant threats to their lives.

The Balochistan assembly, on January 26, in a unanimous resolution applauded the efforts made by the Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan for the restoration of democracy in the county.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in provincial assembly severely criticized the provincial and the federal governments for their failure in providing basic facilities to the people of Balochistan and called upon the government to fulfill its obligation towards the people of the province.

Week in Review

a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction

• According to police officials, three persons, namely Mumtaz Ali, Kamal Khan and Bilawal in Killi Baro, on Sariab road in Quetta, on January 24, left the heater on, before going to bed.The heater went off due to low gas pressure in the middle of the night but gas supply suddenly improved filling the room with poisonous gas that led to suffocation of all three to death.[1]
• Three people, including an inspector of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and a television artist, while traveling by car on Mekangi road in Quetta, on January 25, were shot dead by unidentified assailants. The attackers managed to escape from the scene. The three victims were later identified as FIA inspector, Vilayat Hussain, television artist Abid Nazish and an employee of the Balochistan accountant general office, Mohammad Anwar. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.[2]
• Balochistan journalists arranged a conference at Quetta Press Club, on January 26, to pay tribute to senior journalist, Akhtar Mirza, who died of cardiac arrest two months ago.They termed Balochistan as the second most dangerous place for journalists after Afghanistan, because they are working under serious threats to their lives. One of the speakers said: ‘Balochistan is a conflict zone and journalists are most vulnerable here. Intolerance prevails among political parties, armed groups and government institutions, as everyone wants extensive and exclusive coverage. They pressurize reporters and editors and sometimes send threats.’ The participants of the conference mentioned that it was the responsibility of journalists to be careful while reporting sensitive issues in Balochistan.[3]
• According to security officials, militants attacked check post in the Sui area of Dera Bugti, on January 26, and killed five soldiers while one went missing. A banned militant outfit, BRA, claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier, a man was killed and another sustained injuries in a landmine explosion in Maro near Dera Bugti.[4]
• Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) on January 26 staged an earsplitting protest demonstration outside the Balochistan Assembly building against the targeted killing of three people belonging to their community in Quetta. Inspector of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Vilayat Hussain, TV actor Abid Nazish and Mohammad Anwar were shot dead by unknown assailants on January 25 in Quetta, in what seemed to be an incident of sectarian killing.[5]
• According to Balochistan Levies, ten Pakistani nationals were traveling in a vehicle carrying cattle and heading towards Chah Bahar from the Zaran border on January 27 when Iranian border guards opened indiscriminate fire without prior warning and killed six people while other four sustained injuries. Chah Bahar is a common route for informal trade between the neighbouring countries.[6]
• After receiving reports from the Intelligence Bureau and the Balochistan government regarding the deteriorating law and order in the province, the Supreme Court issued an order on January 28, for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI) to produce their reports on the worsening security situation in the province. The court also issued notices to Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq and the Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi to ensure their presence on February 6 in Supreme Court.[7]

b) Political Front

At the end of his two- days visit to Quetta, Federal Law Minister Maula Baksh Chandio, while talking to media, on January 23, termed the present crisis in the province ‘artificial and a conspiracy’. He added that every democratic government faced the similar fate in the history of Pakistan, while dictators never faced such problems during their prolonged rule. He said: ‘The PPP government has the capability to face and overcome such crises and will complete its tenure. However, political parties in a democratic system have the right to demand for snap polls.’[8]

The Balochistan Assembly joined the Sindh Assembly in backing democracy after it unanimously passed a resolution, expressing support for President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and their efforts to restoration of democracy in the country. With only 10 out of the 65 MPAs present, the resolution was passed on January 26. The assembly emphasized that future of Pakistan was linked to democracy and that it is important that all institutions work under predefined constitutional parameters and refrain from interfering in each other affairs.[9]

The provincial assembly on January 28 held critical debate to highlight the prevailing low pressure gas and non-availability of natural gas in most parts of Balochistan. Lawmakers criticized the federal and provincial governments for failing to ensure the supply of basic facilities to the people. The assembly, through a resolution, called upon the federal government to ensure uninterrupted supply of natural gas to Quetta and other townships.[10]

c) Health Issues

A massive polio eradication plan has been finalized for Balochistan, where the highest number of polio cases in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world were recorded during the year 2011. Some 70 per cent of the cases were reported in Quetta, Pishin and Qilla Abdullah alone. The polio prevention drive will commence on January 30 in 27 districts of the province, whereas in Quetta, Pishin and Qila Abdullah, the campaign will begin on February 6. As many as 2.2 million children will be administered anti-polio drops during this campaign. Around 6,068 mobile teams, 796 fixed sight teams, 73 border teams and 267 transit teams will execute the campaign.[11]

[1] Low gas pressure kills 3 in Quetta–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/326496/low-gas-pressure-kills-3-in-quetta/

[2]Balochistan violence: FIA inspector, TV artist gunned down in Quetta, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327118/fia-inspector-tv-actor-killed-in-quetta/

[3] Balochistan journalists lament lack of security–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327374/balochistan-journalists-lament-lack-of-security/

[4] Militant attack on Sui check post kills 5 soldiers–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327493/militant-attack-on-sui-check-post-kills-5-soldiers/

[5] Balochistan violence: Hazara Democratic Party stages protest–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327541/balochistan-violence-hazara-democratic-party-stages-protest-

[6] Six Pakistanis gunned down by Iranian border guards–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327673/iranian-border-forces-kill-6-pakistanis-injure-4-others/

[7] What ails the province?: ISI, MI assessment on Balochistan sought ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/328356/what-ails-the-province-isi-mi-assessment-on-balochistan-sought/

[8]¿Political parties can demand snap polls– ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/326236/political-parties-can-demand-snap-polls/

[9]Balochistan Assembly throws its weight behind Zardari, Gilani & democracy–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/327569/balochistan-assembly-throws-its-weight-behind-zardari-gilani-democracy/

[10]Diminishing hope: Balochistan Assembly passes yet another resolution against low gas pressure–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/328486/diminishing-hope-balochistan-assembly-passes-yet-another-resolution-against-low-gas-pressure/

[11]Health provision: Polio eradication drive finalised for Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/328750/health-provision-polio-eradication-drive-finalised-for-balochistan/