PRESS RELEASE
A rally was held by
Balochistan Action Committee UK and World Sindhi Congress at the 60th
anniversary of forcible annexation of Balochistan in Pakistan. The rally
was attended by scores of Balochs and Sindhis from the UK and Europe and
by the representatives of various human rights organisations. The rally
was addressed by Khan of Qalat, Mr. Peter Tatchell, Mr. Akbar Barkzai,
Dr. Haleem Bhatti, Mr. Mir Hussain Baloch, Mr. Samad Baloch, Mr. Rahim
Bandovi, Dr. Ghulam Raza Hussainbor, Jamshed Amiri,Tariq Sabru, Ms.
Suraiya Makhdoom, Mr. Mehrab Baloch and Lakhu Luhana.
The speakers denounced the forcible
annexation of Balochistan and its continued occupation by Pakistan. They
also detailed the suffering of Baloch people during these 60 years in
which ruthless and cruel military operations have been carried out most
of the time to suppress the Baloch people’s aspirations for liberty,
dignity and peace. In these operations thousands of Baloch people,
including children, women and elderly have been killed, their livelihood
destroyed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The speakers particularly
condemned the current ongoing military operation that has been carrying
on in Balochistan since last four years and the target killing of Baloch
national leaders. Nawab Akbar Bugti and Mir Balaach Marri. Khan of Kalat
in his written statement reiterated that
“People
of Balochistan never accepted illegitimate annexation to Pakistan and
still inspire freedom from occupation”.
In his
speech he demanded from the Pakistan government to end the colonial
oppression of Balochistan and recogonise Baloch people’s right on their
resources and their right to self determination. Mr. Peter Tatchell, a
renowned British human rights activist, demanded from the USA and the UK
to stop supplying arms to Pakistan as these are being used to kill
innocent people. Concerns were voiced in the speeches that even the
present government in Pakistan has so far failed to stop the military
operation in Balochistan and release all Baloch and Sindhi political
activists. It was also demanded from the British government to release
Mr. Herbiyar marri and Mr. Faiz Baloch who have been arrested in Britain
allegedly at the misinformation of Musharaf regime.
The speakers and the
audience demanded from the international community in general and the
British Government in particular to assist to end the occupation of
Balochistan under its treaty of 1876 with the State of Kalat.
At
the end of the rally a letter was delivered to the British Prime Minster
at 10 Downing Street by Khan of Kalat, Mr. Peter Tatchell, Mr. Akbar
Barkzai, Dr. Haleem Bhatti, Dr. Habibullah Malik and Lakhu Luhana
requesting British Government to use its power to resolve the conflict
and end the occupation of Balochistan under its commitments in 1876
treaty with the State of Kalat. The British prime Minster was also
requested to look into the issue of arrests and persecution of Balochs
in the UK at the behest of Musharaf regime.
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The Petition
written to Gordon Brown ,the prime minister
Subject: Forcible annexation of Balochistan by
Pakistan
Dear Sir,
Members of the Baloch and Sindhi communities in the
UK have gathered here today to register our anger and utmost disgust on
the continued occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan. We are here to
request for urgent moral and diplomatic intervention on behalf of her
majesty’s government to end the 60 years illegal rule of Pakistan over
Balochistan.
Let we briefly present the historical background to
this issue. In accordance to clauses of the 1876 treaty between the
Kalat State and the British Empire, the independence of Kalat was
announced by the then ruler of Kalat, Mir Ahmad Yar Khan, in 1947 prior
to the creation of Pakistan. After the partition of India and the
creation of the religious state of Pakistan, the newly independent
Baloch State came under tremendous pressure both from Pakistan and the
colonial authorities in India for merger of Kalat with Pakistan. However,
both the houses of Parliament of Kalat (House of Commons and House of
Lords) unanimously voted not to join Pakistan and resolved to retain its
independence. Ultimately, when the Pakistani government could not bend
the Baloch will to remain independent by sabre rattling, Pakistan Army
invaded the Kalat State to get the merger statement from the Khan of
Kalat at gun point. It is also interesting to note that the leased areas
of Kalat State were annexed by Pakistani authorities under the shadow of
an illegal and immoral referendum from only a municipality of the
province of British Balochistan.
People of Balochistan have never accepted the illegal
occupation of their country by the religious state of Pakistan which is
dominated by the Punjabi nationality and have waged a genuine democratic
national resistance. Since its annexation, except few brief periods,
Balochistan has been under military occupation and siege. The natural
resources of Baloch people have been looted criminally and cruelly. The
Balochi Language and culture have been suppressed in a crude colonial
style.
Pakistan’s military dominated establishment has been
cruel, ruthless and have committed gross atrocities and serious war
crimes against the Baloch population. A ruthless military operation has
been going on in Balochistan since last 5 years. The military operations
in Balochistan has resulted in the loss of life for thousands of the
Baloch people including children, women and elderly and has resulted in
displacement of hundreds and thousands of civilian Baloch population.
The national leaders of Baloch have been in prisons without trials,
humiliated and target killed by Pakistani civil and military authorities.
Thousands of political activists have been kidnapped, tortured and
killed.
We request urgent intervention from the government of
Great Britain to use its influence internationally in favour of the
genuine demands of Baloch nation. In the face of a policy of genocide,
insanity and deliberate disregard for basic human rights being pursued
by the Pakistani establishment, we plead for the urgent action from Her
Majesty’s Government. We genuinely believe that it is the moral duty of
Great Britain to assist the Baloch people in ending the illegal
occupation of their country as per the treaty of 1876 between the Great
Britain and the State of Kalat (Balochistan).
We also would like to take this opportunity to
request you to look into the matter of Balochs arrested and persecuted
in the UK due to misinformation provided by Musharaf regime.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
His Highness Suleman Ahmadzai ( Khan of Kalat)
Mohammad Akbar Baluch
Balochistan Action committee UK
balochactions@yahoo.co.uk
Dr. Haleem Bhatti
World Sindhi Congress
Dated: March 30, 2008
