Two premier international human rights organizations Wednesday reported to the U.S. Congress that Baloch militant outfits were involved in targeted killings of unarmed civilians in Balochistan in southwest Asia.
Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan director of the Human Rights Watch, and T. Kumar, international advocacy director of the Amnesty International, while singling out the Pakistani state forces for worst atrocities and massive killings, said BLA militant groups were involved in targeted killings of unarmed civilians including Baloch.
The two human rights advocates submitted their reports to the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.
“On 14 August 2010, Pakistan’s Independence Day, 17 people of Punjabi origin were killed in Quetta. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility, saying that the killings were in response to the killings of Baloch missing person,” said T. Kumar, who added. “Hundreds of teachers and other professionals have fled the province as a result of these killings, bringing the education system to a breaking point and damaging the local economy,” he added.
The B.L.A. is believed led by London-based Hyrbyair Marri.
Ali Dayan Hasan said Punjabi settlers and Urdu-speaking mohajirs were living in a state of fear.
“Armed militant groups in Balochistan are responsible for killing many civilians and destroying private property,” Hasan said. “In the past several years, they have increasingly targeted non-Baloch civilians, police stations, and major gas installations and infrastructure,” he added.
Hasan said teachers, professors and school administrators have found their lives increasingly under threat in Balochistan. Between January 2008 and October 2010, suspected militant groups targeted and killed at least 22 teachers and other education personnel in the province.
“Beyond the killings’ simple unlawfulness, the militant groups that are responsible demonstrate disturbing willingness to make the education of the province’s children a pawn of their armed agenda,” Hasan lamented.
The Amnesty representative also dealt with the issue of militants target killing of Baloch political activists by dubbing them as Pakistan agents.
“Baloch armed groups have also claimed responsibility for killing fellow Baloch accused of spying for the state, and have been implicated in the killing of members of rival factions, including activists considered too moderate merely because they do not advocate complete separation from Pakistan,” T. Kumar said.
The Baloch Liberation Army led by D. Allah Nazar Baloch has reportedly been involved in the killings of at least five political activists from two major political parties, National Party and Balochistan National Party, in the last 20 months.
Without naming the Baloch Republican Army, led by Geneva-based Brahumdagh Bugti, the Amnesty report to the U.S. Congress said nationalist groups have also claimed responsibility for repeated attacks on gas and electricity infrastructure, causing severe energy shortages in the province.
“Balochistan is a very cold place in winter, and with gas, oil and electricity in short supply and prices very high, these attacks have been particularly debilitating for ordinary people living in the province,” T. Kumar said.
Hasan asked the U.S. government to tell the militant groups to cease attacks and threats against all civilians, particularly non-Baloch residents of the province.
He said the militant groups should take appropriate disciplinary action against group members who attack civilians.
Georgetown University Asst. Prof. C. Christine Fair expressed concern over the killing of Punjabi school teachers.
Baloch militants get fail scorecard in two reports to U.S. Congress - Baltimore Foreign Policy | Examiner.com
The B.L.A. is believed led by London-based Hyrbyair Marri.
BLA is internationally recognized terrorist organization, how the hell this terrorist living freely in London. Are Pakistani officials sleeping? Why not demand London & UN for arrest this terrorist
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