Target shootings: Student leaders’ killing sparks protests

Shutter-down and wheel jam strike observed to condemn "extra-judicial killings of political opponents".

QUETTA: The killing of two Baloch student leaders triggered protest rallies and shutter-down strikes in Quetta, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Mand, Hub and other parts of Balochistan on Thursday.

A complete shutter-down and wheel jam strike was observed in Turbat, Mand, Hoshap, Buleida, Gwadar, Panjgur and the Industrial township of Hub where business activities came to a complete stop for the day.

The strike was called by Baloch Student Organisation (BSO-Azad) and Baloch National Movement (BNM) to condemn what they described as extra-judicial killings of political opponents.

All shopping and trading centres were closed during the day and there was thin attendance in Government offices.

BSO-Azad held a protest demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club in which a large number of girl students also participated. They carried banners and placards demanding international human rights organisations to take notice of the deteriorating conditions in Balochistan, particularly the recovery of bullet-riddled bodies of the Baloch youth. They said that the lives of common people are not secure at the hands of government functionaries.

The participants chanted slogans against security agencies and Frontier Corps accusing them of picking up Baloch students and killing them during their illegal detention.

Addressing the protestors, leader Banok Andali and President of BSO-Azad Merhab Baloch criticised the security forces for their “brutal attitude” towards Baloch student leaders.

“There is no example of such an inhuman act all over the world and it is a matter of shame for the human rights organisation for their silence over the recovery of decomposed and bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch youth,” they added.

Mehrab claimed that it was in fact genocide of Baloch people.

“This attitude is forcing Baloch students to quit education and join the armed struggle because now such incidents have become a routine,” he added.

The bodies of Baloch student leaders Qambar Chakar and Ilyas Nazar were found in a desolate place on the outskirts of Turbat on Wednesday. Both the victims were listed as missing and their relatives accused security forces of holding them  hostage during their enforced disappearance.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.