Baloch leaders react over killing of Balach Marri

Balach was like my brother: Brahamdagh

http://thepost.com.pk/NatNewsT.aspx?dtlid=130446&catid=2

Azizullah Khan

QUETTA: Brahamdagh Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, denied the allegations that he took the revenge and involved in Balach Marri's killing.

Brahamdagh told BBC from an unidentified place that Balach was like his brother and he even can not think of it. He said that such statements could only be the creation of cheap mentality. He termed all allegations baseless and said that such statements were made to create differences among the Baloch.

"What can I say, it is astonishing. I believe that I have no brother but Balach was like his brother, and I can not say anything else", he added.

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3 cops killed in Quetta violence
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C11%5C24%5Cstory_24-11-2007_pg1_6

QUETTA: Three policemen and a minor girl were killed in three separate incidents claimed by the BLA, while several vehicles and official buildings were attacked as protests against the killing of Balach Marri, leader of the BLA, continued for the third day on Friday. A minor girl died in Satellite Town when miscreants hurled a hand grenade at a house. Separately, three more policemen were killed while a fourth was injured, resulting in eight policemen dead in the last three days. The BLA claimed responsibility for all the killings, and also rejected government claims that Nawab Bugti’s grandson had killed Marri. A BLA spokesman alleged that the government was spreading false rumours about the killing of Marri. Meanwhile, police detained dozens of protesters across Balochistan. These people, mainly students, protested the killing of Marri by blocking roads. staff report

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HRCP denounces Marri’s killing
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
* Demands curbs on freedom of lawyers, judges be lifted
* Expresses grave concern over health of Munir Malik, Aitzaz Ahsan and Ali Ahmed Kurd

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly denounced the mysterious killing of Balach Marri.

The HRCP, in a statement issued here on Friday, said it was shocked and deeply aggrieved over the matter, and claimed the incident was likely to increase the anger of the people of Balochistan against the government. It also demanded a thorough probe into the matter. Pakistan’s leading human rights watchdog also said it was time for the government to give up its reliance on force as the sole means of securing peace and tranquillity in Balochistan.

Lift curbs on judges, lawyers: In another statement issued on Friday, the HRCP also called for an immediate lifting of curbs on the freedom of judges and lawyers.

Health concerns: The statement, signed by HRCP Secretary General Iqbal Haider and Vice Chairwoman Hina Jilani, expresses serious concern over the rapidly deteriorating health of jailed advocate Muneer Malik. It said Malik’s condition in Attock Jail had become serious. He is said to be losing consciousness for hours at a stretch. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan is also reported to have needed medical aid, and senior bar leader Ali Ahmed Kurd is also facing serious tribulations, the statement said.

It said the detention of these leaders of the bar was not only unwarranted and unlawful, it was also in violation of the demands for fair elections and all codes of humanitarian decency. It demanded that they be released immediately.

The HRCP also strongly objected to the hardships being faced by superior court judges —under “unlawfully and unacknowledged detention” — and their families. It demanded that all restrictions on their freedom of movement and their right to receive visitors be withdrawn. staff report

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Mystery shrouds Balach’s killing

* Nawab Marri won’t receive condolences until he sees body
* BLA says it possesses body
* Brother says body to be buried in Afghanistan

By Malik Siraj Akbar

QUETTA: The death of Balach Marri, the leader of banned Balochistan Liberation Army, is wrapped in mystery as the cause and location of his death still remains unknown.

There are various speculations about the circumstances of his death. Some people believe that Balach was sleeping in his hideout in Kohlu district’s Kahan area when security forces raided and killed him after a tip-off from Balach’s men. It is also believed that he was killed in the Noshaki area where he was hiding.

Some reports also suggest that he was on the run and hiding in Afghanistan. NATO forces mistook his convey as that of Taliban’s and bombed him.

Another report says that Balach was killed by Brahmdagh Bugti, the grandson of late Nawab Akbar Bugti, due to differences between them.

However, none of these speculations lead to a convincing conclusion. This time the government has handled the situation carefully after all its bravado proved counterproductive when it announced the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti on August 26, 2006, in an army operation. The government had to change its version repeatedly to escape Baloch resentment.

The government has preferred to remain quite until the angry Baloch calm down The Balochistan government is also urging the people to remain peaceful as “the incident did not take place inside Pakistan”.

Nawab Marri: On the other hand, Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, Balach’s aging father, still does not believe his son’s death. In an interview with the BBC Urdu Service, Nawab Marri said he would not receive condolences until he saw his son’s body.

BLA: On the other hand, the BLA has confirmed the death of its chief, saying that the body is in its possession.

Burial in Afghanistan: Gazin Marri, another son of Nawab Marri, believes that his brother is dead. Gazin told BBC that his brother would be temporarily buried in Afghanistan so that the government of Pakistan does not “disgrace his body”.

The government considered Balach as one of the biggest anti-state element. Islamabad had to seek the support of Interpol to get him extradited to Pakistan. His insurgent group, the BLA, has been claiming responsibility for killing soldiers, blowing up gas pipelines, railway tracks, and firing rockets at security forces checkposts. He was the most popular figure among the extremist segment of Baloch society, which believed in the separation of Balochistan from Pakistan. After the death of Nawab Bugti, the number of such people, mainly Baloch youth, who subscribed to Balach’s version of “national struggle” increased. The immediate response to his killing was not as intense and violent as it was in Nawab Bugti’s case.

Unlike Nawab Bugti, who demanded provincial autonomy through parliamentary politics, Balach derived his support from a different school of thought.

The Marri tribe, despite the largest tribe in the province, does not have popular political support in Balochistan. It commanded respect from extremist Baloch segments because of its vocal support and participation in the armed struggle against the federation.

It is the reason that not many political activists have come on the streets to protest his death.

The BLA has vowed to avenge Balach’s killing