Violation of Human Rights in Balochistan and role of NGO’s

SUBMITTED BY:

Aysha Zubaid

Neha Imtiaz

Fatima Karim

History:Before joining Pakistan,

Balochistan had four states: Makran, Las Bela, Kharan, and Kalat.

Makran, Las Bela, and Kharan joined Pakistan in 1947.

Kalat, chose independence. In April 1948, Pakistan deployed

armed forces to Kalat, and the Khan was forced to accede to Pakistan.

By June 1948, Baluchistan in whole became a region of Pakistan.

Nationalist movement in Balochistan:

There were three movements after 1948: 1958–1959, 1962–1963 and 1973–1977, and a fifth began in 2002. 

1958–1959 conflict: caused by imposition of the One Unit plan which had been implemented in 1955.

1957 : Nauroz Khan announced his intention to secede; Pakistan declared martial law one day later.  

Pakistan bombed villages and deployed tanks with support from artillery.

Missing Persons:“It is a general term used in Pakistan to refer to the

alleged ostensibly” Hundreds of persons in Pakistan who have

disappeared after accusation of terrorism. In 2002–2005 it is estimated that 4000 people

detained in province, only 200 were taken to court and the rest have been held incommunicado.

Supreme Court Investigation

There are more than 5,000 cases of ‘forced disappearances’ in Balochistan.

Many innocents stuck in slow court system, others are in prison waiting for charges.

The Supreme Court is investigating the "missing persons" and issued arrest warrant for the former Military Dictator Pervez Musharaf.

Chief Justice said the military must act under the government's direction and follow parameters set by the Constitution.

Military and Paramilitary AbusesISI has also been accused of human rights

abuses in Balochistan, with the disappearances of nationalists and activists.

In 2008 , an estimated 1102 people were disappeared from the region.

There have also been reports of torture and roadside bodies having been shot.

Continue…In 2011, the Human Rights Commission

reported ISI and Frontier Corps as the perpetrators in illegal disappearances in Balochistan.

Daily news reported that ISI and Frontier Corps puts abducted Balochs to death illegally.

In 2012 the government denied allegations over the use of death squads operating in Balochistan in the Supreme Court.

Balochistan’s former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Jan claimed the current disturbances in Balochistan were due to enforced disappearances.

Shia MinorityShia Muslims make up at least 20% of the

total population.Hazara people in Quetta, have lost nearly

800 members in terrorist attacks by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba; Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sunni Muslim terrorists organizations.

The repression worsened after September 11 attacks.

Since 2000, Hazara community were attacked by Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sunni Muslim terrorists.Many Shia Muslims were killed in northern areas of Pakistan.

Continue…In 2002, 12 Shia police cadets were

gunned down in Quetta. In 2003, the main Shia Friday Mosque was attacked in Quetta, killing 53 worshippers.

March 2, 2004, many were killed and wounded when a procession of the Shia Muslims was attacked by rival Sunni extremists

In 2006, 53 people died and 150 were injured in a suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Quetta in 2003.

In 2009, as many as 40 Shias were killed in an apparent suicide bombing during Ashura in Karachi.

Baloch Separatist GroupBaloch movements have

carried out a wide range of systematic human rights abuses in Balochistan, including targeted killings of ethnic non-Baloch civilians.

This has caused an economic draining in the province. A large number of professors, teachers, engineers, barbers and masons are leaving the province for fear of attacks.

".

This will push the Baloch nation at least one century back.

These immigrant settlers had been living in Balochistan for centuries and called it "a crime against humanity

Assassination of BugtiNawab Akbar Bugti was a

famous Baloch leader and head of Bugti tribe, involved in struggles, in Balochistan in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

He was accused by government of running a well-organized militia,called as Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)

According to thegovernment, he was directing a “Mullah Omar” style guerrilla war.

In 2006, General Pervez Musharraf targeted him.

Development IssuesGovernment of Pakistan has claimed its intention

to bring industrialization to the province, and continues to claim that progress has been made and introduced an economic package called "Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan” along new Gawadar-Karachi highway.

Baloch nationalist groups argue the benefits of these policies and extraction of natural gas, have not accrued to the native Baloch residents.

Continue…The people of the region maintain a nomadic

lifestyle due to extreme poverty and illiteracy. The native people are continuously threatened

which has resulted in loss of thousands of innocent lives for many years.

In 2004 three chinese engineers working on a hydropower project to develop Baloch agricultural capacity, were killed while another 11 injured in a car bomb attack by BLA.

The royalties do not drop down to the common people in Balochistan due to corruption and wealth-hoarding of Baloch tribal chiefs. This has hindered the growth of infrastructure.

Education ProblemThe government has sought to encourage

scholarships for Balochistan students so they can go home and lead development programs.

The provincial governments of Sindh, Punjab and KP said they would take steps to encourage Balochistan students to enroll and benefits from 100% scholarships.

Nationalists argue that not enough education development is taking place, and the government has neglected its duty.

Violence Against Women in Balochistan

Domestic Violence The supremacy of the male and subordination of the female assumed to be the part of the culture and even to have permission of the religion is responsible for the acceptability of the universal features of domestic violence.

Stove burningStove burning has become

more common indication of increased marital violence. Deaths by stove burning are generally attributed to be accidental bursting of stoves with responsibility on manufacturer or the carelessness and ignorance of women using the stove.

Karo-kari An increased incidence of karo-kari ‘blackened man, blackened woman’ in Balochistan. Perceptions of women as male property, karo-kari takes place to avenge family ‘honor’ when a woman violates tribal or cultural norms.

Continue…

Watta SattaWatta Satta The Practice of

Watta Satta in which a brother and sister are married to another pair of siblings continues unchanged. This custom prevails not only amongst the lower classes, in order to cut down demand of dowry but also amongst middle and upper classes.

Role of NGO’s in BalochistanThe Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

(HRCP) has remained concerned about the human rights situation in Balochistan

The recent incident of multiple suicide bombings in Quetta and Ziarat. HRCP expresses its deep condolences to the families of all the victims.

There was almost all speakers that HRCP met expressed some hope in the formation of the new government. It was considered to be a positive step which could lead to an opportunity for ending grave human rights violations in the province.

Continue..However, the same speakers warned that they

saw no signs of a change in policy within the security and intelligence agencies as the acts “kill and dump”, torture, extra judicial killings continue.

Even while the new government was being sworn in, dead bodies were being discovered and there have been reports of missing people post elections as

HRCP finds that such allegations must be taken seriously.

The federal government was expected to fully back the provincial government in its developmental works in the province.

NGO’s within Balochistan Balochistan Environmental and educational Journey (BEEJ) Harboi Development Organization AZAT Foundation Participatory Educational Awareness And Community

Empowerment Welfare Association For New Generation Peaceful Environment for Women Society Ncbp-Nations Capacity Building Program Balochistan Organization for Needful Development

(BOND) Balochistan Education Foundation (BEF) ASHDS - Ahmer Social and Human Development Society PAWAL-Promotion for Awareness Welfare and Literacy BDI-Balochistan Development Initiatives Ndf Chaghi-National Development Foundation

Azat Foundation

It is a not for profit and non – governmental organization, established on 17th February 2003.

Azat Foundation is engaged in advocacy, campaigning, community mobilization, research, networking, challenging anti poor policies, plans and actions at local, national and international level with different coalitions.

Azat Foundation also works for development of unprivileged and less developed communities and responses disasters in disaster prone areas to make sure all human exercise equal rights and get equal opportunities of development.

Referenceshttp://www.diplomaticcircle.com/

November11_Articles/ruralwomen.phphttp://balochhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/

balochistan-violence-against-women-are.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochistan_conflicthttp://www.ngos.org.pk/cities/balochistan-ngos.htmhttp://www.azatfoundation.orghttp://www.irinnews.org/report/18369/pakistan-

focus-on-ngos-and-community-development-in-balochistan

http://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/hrcp-launches-balochistan-fact-finding-missions-report/

http://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/hrcp-fact-finding-mission-to-balochistan-issues-observations/

Thank you for your attention!