Turbat: Graveyard of Seraiki laborers from Wasaib

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BLA has claimed the responsibility of more than 500 killings since 2000
The history of Balochistan insurrections against the Pakistani state dates back to 1948 but its intensity has fluctuated over the years
From launching of an army operation by the then civilian martial law administrator Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1973 to “iron fisted Army Operation” of the then army dictator Genernal Pervaiz Musharraf against Nawab Bugti in 2006, Baloch continue to view their fight as one against repression and for self-determination

Crushed by Iran and Pakistan, this Baloch insurgency, however, has historically found some resting place on the Afghan side of the border, especially whenever Pakistani grip on Afghan affairs has mellowed down.

The latest entry into this mix is of China, who is eyeing Balochistan as a dream venture to connect mainland China with the rest of the world via Gawadar sea port to materialize its golden goose plan of CPEC.

Turbat has become graveyard for poor Seraiki areas from Wasaib. With a gap of hardly two weeks, terrorists killed four more laborers. They did it this time in police station.

Reportedly, they stormed a police station in the wee hours on Tuesday. A policeman and four labourers were killed in the exchange of fire. This attack came on the heels of heart-rending killing of six workers on October 14.

After that attack, the caretaker chief minister publicly vowed to chase down the terrorists. The prime minister and other state functionaries also shared his resolve.

It is believed that the terrorists have sent a strong and clear message to the state as well as their targets.

On this sad situation, former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who hails from Wasaib powerhouse Multan, has condemned the recent incident of terrorism in Turbat and demanded the immediate arrest of terrorists.

Yousaf Raza Gillani Told Baithak, “Just two weeks ago, six Seraiki laborers of Shujaabad were martyred in Turbat and today’s incident took place at the police station in which a constable was also martyred along with four labourers from Muzaffargarh.”

He said that these incidents are a matter of concern, besides the provincial government, the federal government should also take immediate action. Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani said, “We sympathise with the families of the martyred workers, we pray for the forgiveness of the deceased and the patience of the families.”

Meanwhile, former senior Provincial Minister Haji Noor Muhammad Khan Damar has condemned the firing of suspects on security forces in Khuhro area of Awaran. Haji Noor Mohammad Khan Damar expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the personnel martyred in the attack by the suspects.

We need to remind people like Noor Muhammad that the massacre of Seraikis in Balochistan is not a sacrifice. This is a massacre. And those in government will now have to move beyond condemnation. They know the terrorists and they can rein them in. They just need to feel the pain of the victims. The Seraikis have to go to distressed places in search of food as they do not have the means to earn in Wasaib. Above all, it is a question of equitable distribution of resources so that Seraikis do not feel the need to risk their lives in search of bread and butter.

Background:

The history of Balochistan insurrections against the Pakistani state dates back to 1948 but its intensity has fluctuated over the years. From launching of an army operation by the then civilian martial law administrator Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1973 to “iron fisted Army Operation” of the then army dictator Genernal Pervaiz Musharraf against Nawab Bugti in 2006, Baloch continue to view their fight as one against repression and for self-determination.

If Butto’s army-operation added fuel to the wounds of ethnically driven Baloch youth then Bugti’s engineered death by the army-backed dictator in 2006 helped to spread this simmering fire of separationists to spread within and beyond Balochistan borders. The ultimate result is that the fifth and thus far the longest-lasting phase of the insurgency in Balochistan since 2006, began in the rugged, mountainous region of Dera Bugti and Sui, and established a strong foothold in most of the Baloch districts, even the Makran Division, which was not directly involved in previous insurgency movements.

Interestingly, British, and Persian empires annexed part of this huge mass of land (once known as united Balochistan) for their strategic security concerns and that’s why Pakistani part of Balochistan is sandwiched between Iran (Seestan) and Afghanistan (a small portion of the Kandahar, Helmand, and Nimruz provinces). Crushed by Iran and Pakistan, this Baloch insurgency, however, has historically found some resting place on the Afghan side of the border, especially whenever Pakistani grip on Afghan affairs has mellowed down. The latest entry into this mix is of China, who is eyeing Balochistan as a dream venture to connect mainland China with the rest of the world via Gawadar sea port to materialize its golden goose plan of CPEC.

BLA:

Nevertheless, Balochistan Liberation Army, a listed terrorist organization by Pakistan, United States, Britain and European Union, is claimed to have launched series of attacks against Pakistan armed forces and police, minorities (especially Hazara community practicing Shia sect of Islam), migrant construction workers from other provinces (Sindh and South Punjab in particular) and even school teachers (who are refusing to let students recite Baloch anthem in schools). BLA has claimed the responsibility of more than 500 killings since 2000 and latest being the six construction workers whose bodies have finally been flown back to their ancestral villages near Multan (South Punjab).

On the flip side, the real custodians of the Pakistan’s geographical and ideological frontiers believe that these acts of terrorism are backed by enemies of the state (referring mostly to India and sometimes to sympathetic elements in Afghanistan). Political governments over the year have been busy collecting these dead bodies and issuing statements of condemnations without ever thinking of seeking a political solution to a never-ending trouble which in fact is rising to some alarming proportions by any logical thinking.

Also read: اداریہ https://epaper.baithak.news/archives/276544