Balochistan Earthquake and Pakistan army relief operations

Opinions : By Shahzoor Baloch

A powerful earthquake struck south-west of Balochistan where 90 per cent of houses were flattened to ground and more than 300000 people were affected and thousands died. The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.7 on Richter scale which struck twice the mentioned region of Balochistan. Despite the natural disaster Pakistani forces have accelerated their unabated atrocities against Baloch victims. It is because the south-west region, which includes Awaran, Mushkay, and the adjoining areas are under the control of Baloch freedom fighters. The fact that Baloch people support their freedom fighters, have caused Pakistani forces to increase their inhumane acts against Baloch children, women and youth after the disastrous earthquake.

The lack of vibrant media and international watchdogs has encouraged the Pakistani forces to enhance their cruelty towards already earthquake struck Baloch population. Locals of these affected areas have reported that Pakistani forces have increased their operation against Baloch victims in order to crush them easily and labelled them as raising death tools of earthquake victims. The south-west region of Balochistan is deprived of food and other rehabilitation resources by Pakistani forces. Today the nation (Baloch) which is blessed with resources like Gold and Copper of Reko Dek(ranking second most richest reserves of gold and copper).Besides, Sui gas, Saindak Gold reserves and the mouth of Hormuz strait which passes through Gawadar port coupled with reserves of Marble, Gypsum, Coal, Barite, Iron, Uranium etc which are enough for a country to be self-sufficient in all its resources and needs, but the time-riddled victims of Earthquake and those volunteers Baloch who are begging for their nation sufferings are getting nothing. The so called nationalists (National party, BNP Mengal and BNP Awami) are crying wolf that they are at the forefront for the rehabilitation work to help victims but in reality the parties are completely betraying the international community and international humanitarian organisations. They are merely involved in politics of point scoring.

Today Baloch nation is fully aware of the fact that besides Pakistani army and ISI, civil society and media as well has no concerned with the suffering of Baloch victims of Earthquake. That is because the former and latter have had no sympathy with Baloch nation as they were energetic and vibrant during Earthquake in Kashmir and Ziarat. Where both civil society and media are active and billions of worth was drawn from International Community. But in the case of Balochistan the international community and local NGOs are being threatened by army that in these area there are security risks and nobody is allowed to go there. This is because the Pakistani army and paramilitary forces are afraid of the fact that these international organisations will witness the on-going human rights violations by Pakistan and open the Pandora box.

The rampant forces have crossed all the stages of cruelty by their worst approach towards Baloch victims. Through various sources it is confirmed that army personals have put embargo for rehabilitation of Baloch victims, they had had captured all trucks and vehicles full of food stuff and other rehabilitation products in their camps which are not being delivered to the victims. This is the worst crime in the history of the world and mankind. The purport of taking all these stuffs is not only to deprive the Baloch victims of earthquake but that is preparation of a mega operation in these localities because as it is mentioned above that this belt belongs to lower middle class society, and people in these areas sympathies with Baloch freedom fighters and support freedom of Balochistan. This is also the region from where Deputy Speaker of Balochistan provincial assembly had secured only 544 votes among millions of population which reveals failure of Pakistani army to have a control over this region coupled with other parts of Balochistan. This failure has further increased the Cruelty of occupier towards Baloch people.

The so called chief minister (Dr Malik) with his cadre is prostrated at the door step of ISI and army in order to confirm their premiership in Balochistan government. These pseudo nationalists have nothing to do with Baloch victims that are the reason they had been humiliated by earthquake victims during their visit in Awaran Balochistan. Besides, several reports have been received through various sources that Frontier Corps is indulged in suppressing affected by their savage approach. In an interview with BBC Urdu radio a Baloch lady told the reporter that they need nothing from Pakistan – she also said “This is not Pakistan this is Balochistan.”

The people in area has asked the army that they didn’t need any support but just do not torture them physically and mentally as they are already in trauma because of the loss of their loved ones, homes and belongings. But these rampant forces didn't even listen to them and enhanced their atrocities through shelling from helicopter and C-1 30 bomb bearing plane. On the second day of Earthquake Baloch nation had received five mutilated bodies of their beloved ones from Parom area of Punjgoor district. On one hand Pakistani atrocities pushed the Baloch against the wall and vice versa the international community has not yet broke the ice. The organization like Amnesty international, Human rights watch and UN at large and their silence under these circumstances where Baloch nation is being tortured despite of the natural disaster have basically put a strong question mark to their credibility. Moreover, Pakistani agencies are using local NGOs to collect information in the vulnerable zone regarding activities of Baloch youths who are potent in rehabilitation of their nation. These local Pakistani NGOs are actually parts of wings of ISI, which used to work for it, so that they curve out their favour for ISI in their genocide of Baloch. Baloch nation is thoroughly aware of such tactics being used by Pakistani army, MI and paramilitary forces. Pakistan is the country which betrayed America, Europe and the rest of the world by hiding Osama bin Laden near a military base. It is the high time for international community to ponder over happenings in Balochistan and put pressure over Pakistan to stop Baloch genocide. So far the world has ignored Balochistan and confined themselves to statements of concerns only and failed to implements the international laws and conventions against Pakistan which committing crimes against humanity in Balochistan.

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