In a week when terrorism related violence was at the lowest in the province; nature intervened to balance the equation as according to reports, nine people were killed and five others injured when a portion of a coal mine located in Dasht collapsed on October 13. In sum, the number of dead people stands at 14 during the week.

Balochistan provincial minister and chief of the Jalawan tribe, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) detonated an explosive device near the minister convoy while he was traveling from Kalat to Khuzdar on Friday night, October 15.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani asked militants to shun violence, as the progress of the region lies in peace and amicable settlement of disputes. He assured that Baloch youth will be given appropriate quotas in jobs and relaxation in age in order to address the long held Baloch grievances.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik declared on Friday, October 14, that the government is taking all necessary security measures in Balochistan to ensure peace in the province. He blamed banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) for recent spate of sectarian killings in the province.

Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP), in its statement expressed serious concerns over ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan on Saturday, October 15, and urged judiciary and government to take solid measures to address the issue.

Week in Review

a) Acts of Terrorism/Subversion

• Two more bullet-riddled dead bodies of Baloch missing persons, including that of a Baloch National Movement (BNM) member, were recovered from Arbab Complex area of Khuzdar district on October 10. The deceased were identified as BNM Vice President of Mashkey, Rashid Ali, and Shafi Mohammad, a resident of Anjira area of Kalat district. According to the details, Shahfi Mohammad was abducted from Karachi in April, 2011, while Rashid Ali was abducted on August 17, 2011 while he was on his way to Karachi. As many as 204 bullet-riddled and mutilated bodies of missing persons have so far been found in different parts of Balochistan since the last 14 months.[1]
• Two people were killed when gunmen torched an oil tanker carrying fuel for NATO troops in Afghanis near the Dasht area of Balochistan on Tuesday, October 11, officials said. Gunmen on a motorbike fired at the vehicle setting it on fire in the Dasht suburb of the provincial capital Quetta, local administration official Saeed Kurd told AFP. As a result, the driver and his helper were killed as they could not leave the burning vehicle on time, he said.[2]
• A sitting Balochistan provincial minister and chief of the Jalawan, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri escaped an attempt on his life near Surab in Kalat district, on Friday night, October 15. The Baloch Liberation Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. Assistant Commissioner of police Qadir Baksh said that the provincial minister for services and general administration department (SGAD) Sardar Sanaullah was on his way to Khuzdar from Kalat when an explosive device planted along with RCD highway near Anjera area went off. However, the minister remained unhurt in the attack as blast took place a few minutes before his convoy passed by.[3]
• President of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan chapter Dr Mazar Baloch succumbed to his injures on Saturday, October 15, a day after being shot by unknown gunmen in Quetta. Dr Mazar was an orthopedic surgeon and assistant professor at the Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) Teaching Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries at the Agha Khan Hospital, Karachi. Earlier, he received eight bullet wounds when armed men ambushed his vehicle on Masjid Road in Quetta.[4]

b) Political Front

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani reaffirmed his government plan on Tuesday, October 11 to implement the set strategy to provide Baloch youth with employment opportunities in order to address their pressing grievances. Prime Minister Gillani expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation PPP provincial leaders and workers led by MPA and former Provincial Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani at Balochistan Governor House. PM Gilani, who is on two-day visit to Quetta, will be addressing the Army passing out parade, scheduled to be held in cantonment area. 5, 000 cadets are due to be inducted in to Pakistan Army. He said that unemployed youth of Balochistan will be given relaxation in age and set educational criteria for recruitment. He also met with a delegation of Hazara Community and assured complete security in order to prevent sectarian targeted killing. He also expressed grief and sorrow over the killings that took place in recent weeks.[5]

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday, October 11, that the prosperity of Balochistan was linked to peace and asked militants to shun violence and work for the progress of their province along with the country. While addressing the passing-out parade of Pakistan Army recruits from Balochistan, he said, ‘choose the path of peace, as this is the only way for the progress of people of Balochistan and Pakistan.’ He also added: The agenda of these terrorists and extremists is certainly against Pakistan. PM Gilani said that the government had planned to provide jobs to 20,000 youth from Balochistan and appreciated General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Commander of the Southern Command Lt. Gen. Javed Zia for ensuring best possible training to bring the youth to mainstream.[6]

After the prime minister renewed offer to hold talks with disgruntled Baloch leaders, a special parliamentary committee formed to address the violence in Karachi and Balochistan has planned a visit to Quetta next week. During his two-day visit, PM Gilani had offered to speak to Baloch nationalists and address their reservations. ‘No more violence, it time to hold talks with our angry (Baloch) brothers,’ said the head of the committee Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah on October 14. ‘We will speak to all stakeholders and prepare recommendations for a permanent solution to the issue,’ the minister said.[7]

President Asif Ali Zardari directed the ministry of Interior on Friday, October 14, to take stern action against elements involved in incidents of target killings and sectarian violence in Balochistan. He also stressed upon immediate measures to provide protection to pilgrims traveling from Quetta to Iran. ‘The heavy hand of the government will fall on all those elements behind the attacks on members of Hazara community,’ President Zardari said in a meeting with a delegation of the Hazara Community.[8]

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday, October 14that the government was taking concrete measures to ensure peace in Balochistan. Talking to media outside the parliament house, he said that on thedirectives of President Asif Ali Zardari, he would be visiting Quetta every weekto assess law and order situation by tackling the abductors in a more vigorousmanner.[9] He blamed banned militant outfit LeJ for the unrest in Balochistan, while asserting that the police and the Frontier Constabulary were acting against terrorist elements.[10]

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP), Balochistan chapter, took out a protest rally in Quetta on Saturday, October 15, to raise concerns over violation of human rights in the province. According to HRCP, discovery of mutilated bodies of Baloch missing persons, sectarian killings as well as kidnapping for ransom of the Hindus are on the rise in Balochistan. The rights group regretted that the human rights– issues receive little attention from both the government and the judiciary.[11]

c) Natural Calamity

Nine people were killed and five others injured when a portion of a coal mine located in Dasht collapsed on Thursday, October 13. The mine collapse occurred as a result of an explosion in the mine, which is located about 40 kilometers from Quetta. Initial reports suggest that the explosion was caused by the accumulation of gas or air in the mine.[12]

[1] Baloch missing persons: Body of Baloch National Movement leader found–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/271383/baloch-missing-persons-body-of-baloch-national-movement-leader-found/

[2] Two dead as NATO oil tanker torched in Dasht–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/271643/two-dead-as-nato-oil-tanker-torched-in-dasht/

[3] Balochistan Minister Zehri escapes attempt on life–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/274252/balochistan-minister-zehri-escapes-attempt-on-life/

[4]Target killing: PMA Balochistan leader succumbs to wounds–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/275063/target-killing-pma-balochistan-leader-succumbs-to-wounds/

[5] PM arrives in Quetta: Opportunities for Baloch youth to be created–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/271205/pm-arrives-in-quetta-opportunities-for-baloch-youth-to-be-created/

[6] Peace the only way for Balochistan’s progress: Gilani–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/271620/peace-the-only-way-for-balochistans-progress-gilani/

[7] Lawmakers prepare for talks with ¿angry Baloch brothers––, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273707/lawmakers-prepare-for-talks-with-angry-baloch-brothers/

[8]Sectarian violence: President directs stern action against perpetrators–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273577/sectarian-violence-president-directs-stern-action-against-perpetrators/

[9] Malik says, solid steps afoot to ensure peace in Balochistan–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273955/malik-says-solid-steps-afoot-to-ensure-peace-in-balochistan/

[10] Counter-terrorism: ¿Lashkar-e-Jhangvi involved in Balochistan unrest–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273955/malik-says-solid-steps-afoot-to-ensure-peace-in-balochistan/

[11] Balochistan plight: Protest march in Quetta over rights violations–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/275074/balochistans-plight-protest-march-in-quetta-over-rights-violations/

[12]9 killed in Balochistan coalmine collapse–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/273247/9-killed-in-balochistan-coalmine-collapse/