Executive Summary

Violence orchestrated by the Baloch insurgents made the province awfully bleed during the week. As a deadly ambush, reportedly by the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), left 14 Frontier Corps (FC) men dead, near Wakai area about 50 kilometers from Turbat on January 12. In sum, during the course of the week, 16 people were killed in different episodes of violence across the province.

President of the Friends of Baloch (FoB), Amanullah Gichki, said on January 10 that the success of an All Parties Conference (APC) to resolve the issues of Balochistan depends ‘on the mood of the military establishment’.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed resentment over the swelling cases of missing persons in Balochistan on January 10. He asked the Chief Secretary of Balochistan to present a report on deteriorating law and order situation in the province until January 16.

National Education Foundation (NEF) paid salaries to the teachers who were working in schools which exist only on papers and which were declared by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) as non- functional.

During his visit to Quetta on January 11, US Counsel General William Martin announced $10 million assistance for uplifting educational and health facilities in the area.

Summary of Week Casualties

Week in Review

a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion and Abduction

• According to security officials, on January 12, insurgents ambushed two vehicles, carrying troops of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in the mountainous Wakai area near Nawano check-post, about 50 kilometers from Turbat city and killed 14 security personnel including two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs). The troops were engaged in clearing mines in the region when they came under heavy attack. The banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility for the attack. The insurgency has been at peak following the killing of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was also the chief of Jamhoori Watan Party, in a military operation in the Taratani caves of Kohlu district in 2006.[1]
• FC Inspector General Maj. Gen. Obaidullah Khan Khattak expressed deep sorrow on January 13 over the death of 14 paramilitary troops in Turbat District, adding that the FC was determined to maintain peace in Balochistan. He added that the sacrifices rendered by FC personnel would not go useless and FC would not abandon its duties of retaining long-lasting peace in this region. He stated: ‘The elements involved in this deadly attack will be chased till they are brought to justice.’ [2]
• Two bullet-riddled bodies were found in Yak Mach and Shakar Aab areas of Chagai District on January 13. An official said that the identities of deceased are still not known. Separately, unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at the residence of a government official, identified as Saleem Khokar, in Killi Ibraimzai area on Brewery Road in Quetta. The grenade exploded inside the residence, damaging the door and window of the house. However, Khokhar and his family were unhurt in the attack. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.[3]
• The Shuhada Action Committee, led by religious scholar Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Sherodi, carried out a protest rally from Abdul Sattar Road through Liaqat Bazaar to Bacha Khan Chowk, on January 14 to protest ongoing targeted killings of religious scholars in Balochistan. Sherodi said: ‘The government and law-enforcement agencies have failed to arrest a single culprit involved in targeted killings.’ According to the committee, over eight religious scholars have been shot dead in broad daylight in Balochistan in the past two months.[4]
• Three Iranian security personnel booked for killing a Pakistani national and injuring another in Mashkel were acquitted by the Sessions Judge of Kharan on Saturday, January 14 after successful negotiations between the victims– family and the accused. According to a senior official of the Balochistan government, the Iranian security personnel were released under the Qasas Ordinance, after negotiations. Under the ordinance, the accused would pay compensation to the family of the deceased.[5]
• Chattar Station House Officer (SHO) Gulam Haider Manjo escaped a remote-controlled blast in Nasirabad district on January 15. Chattar DSP Deedar Hussain Magsi said that unidentified men had planted explosives along the roadside to target the police. They detonated it when the police convoy led by SHO Ghulam Haider Manjho passed by the area in an official vehicle. Police van was damaged as a result of blast, however, the police personnel remained unhurt, DSP added.[6]

b) Political Front

The members of the National Assembly special all-party committee on law and order will visit Quetta on January 10 to receive a briefing from senior officials on the issue of sectarian killings in Balochistan. The 17-member committee formed by Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza with a special focus on the issues of target killings in Karachi and sectarianism in Balochistan in line with the motion adopted by the National Assembly on August 12 is headed by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah of the ruling Pakistan People Party (PPP).[7]

While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif proposal to convene an all-party conference (APC) to discuss Balochistan issue, Friends of Baloch (FoB) president Amanullah Gichki said that the success of the conference depends ‘on the mood of the military establishment’. He said on January 10 that Nawaz can play a pivotal role in bringing peace to the province; however it is all subject to the establishment consent.[8]

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation and increasing number of missing persons in Balochistan, on January 10. He said that uncertainty prevails in the province as bullet-riddled bodies were found every day. The Chief Justice observed that the personnel of the law enforcement agencies were also being targeted in such incidents. The court also inquired about the arrest of those persons, who are involved in attacks against the Hazara community. The court, adjourning the hearing of the case, sought a comprehensive report from the Balochistan Chief Secretary about worsening law and order until January 16.[9]

c) Economic front

As gas remained suspended in Balochistan for the fourth day; residents of Quetta took to the streets and blocked roads in protest on Monday, January 9, 2012. Protesters marched through the city, including main areas such as Saryab Raod, Alamo Chowk, Killi Shabo and Smungali Road, and condemned the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for its failure to repair an 18-inch pipeline in Dera Bugti that came under attacked last week.[10]

National Education Foundation (NEF) paid salaries to teachers working in ghost schools across Balochistan on January 10 even NADRA confirmed that the institutions were non-functional and bogus. Meanwhile, the organization Managing Director Kamran Zafar said: ‘I was not in favor of releasing salaries, but I had to do it on the directives of the high-ups’.[11]

On an invitation from Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Aslam Bhootani, United States Counsel General William Martin visited girl primary school in Duregi area of Lasbela district in Balochistan on January 11 and announced $10 million in aid for the provision of educational and health facilities in the area. [12]

[1] Balochistan insurgency: 14 FC troops killed in Turbat ambush ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/320212/14-security-personnel-killed-in-balochistan-ambush/

[2] FC vows to catch culprits behind Turbat massacre–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/320739/fc-vows-to-catch-culprits-behind-turbat-massacre/

[3] Two bullet-riddled bodies found in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F14&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#3

[4] Balochistan Violence: Rally against target killings–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/321350/balochistan-violence-rally-against-target-killings/

[5] Border violation: 3 Iranian personnel acquitted under Qasas Ordinance–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/321494/border-violation-3-iranian-personnel-acquitted-under-qasas-ordinance/

[6] SHO escapes terror attack–, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\01\15\story_15-1-2012_pg7_13

[7] National Assembly committee to be briefed on Balochistan violence–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F09&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#18

[8] Balochistan conflict: ¿Nawaz success hinges on army consent– ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/319123/balochistan-conflict-nawaz-success-hinges-on-armys-consent/

[9] CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expresses concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan–, at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news3.asp?date3=2012%2F1%2F10&image2.x=0&image2.y=0#23

[10] Gas shortage: Four days on, Balochistan loses its patience ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/318863/gas-shortage-four-days-on-balochistan-loses-its-patience/

[11] Balochistan NEF initiative: School teachers keep pocketing salaries ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/319130/balochistan-nef-initiative-school-teachers-keep-pocketing-salaries/

[12] US announces $10 million development fund for Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/319918/us-announces-10-million-development-fund-for-balochistan/