Baloch missing persons: Trussed-up bodies of five men found

All the victims were shot in the head and chest.


Shezad Baloch April 26, 2011

QUETTA:


The discovery of five more bullet-riddled bodies in Balochistan on Monday morning has confirmed the worst fears of relatives of Baloch missing persons.


All the victims were killed in an identical manner and were shot in the head and chest. Three of the slain men were said to be activists of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP), a nationalist party headed by Brahamdagh Bugti. The other two victims are said to have no political affiliation.

Local police officer Qadir Qambrani said the three bodies were recovered from Sorgaz. The victims were from a desolate area in Khuzdar district, about 300-kilometres south of the provincial capital. Their hands were tied at the back and their eyes blindfolded.

The identities of the dead were ascertained through notes next to their bodies, which said one of the men, Hasani, was a barber. He had been whisked away some nine days ago from Khuzdar city. An FIR had been registered for the other two, Mohammad Hafeez and Murtaza, who were kidnapped on March 10.

“The victims were shot in the head and chest and their bodies bore multiple marks of brutal torture,” said hospital staff, adding that it seemed they were severely tortured before being killed.

Sources said that the notes also called the dead informers of Baloch insurgents and nationalist groups.

The Baloch Republican Party confirmed that the victims were activists of their party and accused government functionaries of killings political opponents for no crime. The BRP has called for a three-day shutter-down strike in Khuzdar to condemn the killings.

“Family members had not nominated anyone in the FIR. Police are investigating the matter,” a police officer said.

Meanwhile, two more bodies were recovered from a deserted area in Kech district that were later identified as Zareef and Shameem.

Zareef was kidnapped on April 17 from a Turbat-Karachi bound passenger coach near Nialat area of Turbat, while Mohammad Shameem was listed as missing some six days back from Gwadar. Both victims were from Kech district.

As news of the recovery spread, panic triggered in Kech district and markets were closed to mourn the killings.

According to the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organisation striving for the release of missing persons, the names of all five people were on the list of missing persons.

“As many as 140 bullet-riddled bodies were recovered over the past eight months. The family members blamed security personnel for the killing and dumping of bodies,” said chairperson of VBMP Nasurllah Baloch. Now we do not have any expectations and hope for the recovery of missing persons. Thirteen more people were picked up when we were protesting in Islamabad and approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he said.

He said that the victims had direct and indirect affiliation with Baloch nationalist parties, adding that no investigation is being carried out into this humanitarian issue.

Police officials in Balochistan had no information about who was behind the killings.

“The Pakistani establishment has a specific approach towards people of Balochistan and they want to resolve the issues by using military means,” said a National Party spokesperson in a statement issued here.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2011.

COMMENTS (2)

nawabibalouch | 12 years ago | Reply time is come for balochs to take the fight to all over balochistan
JAMEEL | 12 years ago | Reply Its really bad that none of the so called patriotic parties and leaders are not addressing the issue of Balochistan seriously and there is a danger of Sukoot-e-Baloochistan if the establishement of Pakistan tries to suppress the genuine aspirations of native baloch people. All Pakistanis are equal whether they are Punjabis, Shindhis, Pakhtoons and Balochis. People of Punjab should clear their stance on Balochistan only they can stop injustice in Balochistan. Baloch people should be given all royalties of Balochistan's assets and this is their right as human and by religion.
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