Grand Baloch Jirga decides to Take
Balochistan's Case to the International
Court of Justice.
Balochistan's Case to the International
Court of Justice.
KALAT, Balochistan: A grand Baloch Tribal Jirga of Balochistan's upper Parliament (Dar-ul-umrah) was held here on Thursday
September 26, 2006 after about 126 years, announced in a declaration that a case would be filed in the International Court of
Justice against the illegal occupation of Balochistan, Exploitations of Baloch resources and gross human right Violation in
Balochistan against Baloch Nation by Pakistani occupying forces.
The Khan of Kalat, King of Balochistan, Mir Suleman Daud Ahmedzai, presided over the jirga held in the Royal Palace (Shahi Hall).
It was attended by 85 tribal chiefs and about 300 elders.
The declaration expressed concern over the ‘colonial occupation’ of the Baloch land by Punjab in violation of the accord signed by
the state of Kalat and the government of Pakistan in 1948.
The declaration was read out by the chief of Jhalawan, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri. It described the ongoing military operation in
Balochistan as state terrorism and called for an immediate end to the operation and release all arrested political workers.
It rejected the Sui tribal jirga’s decision to abolish the Sardari system in the Bugti area and termed the action taken at the behest of
the government an interference in tribal affairs and said that tribal matters should be resolved in accordance with customs and
traditions.
The declaration said that the jirga recognised the heirs of Nawab Akbar Bugti as legitimate owners of the property of the deceased,
adding that it would resist allotment of the property to anyone other than the heirs.
The jirga condemned the tragic incident of Aug 26 in which Nawab Bugti was killed and demanded an investigation into the cause
of his death by the International Human Rights Commission to ascertain the factual position.
The declaration rejected the mega development projects, including the Gwadar uplift programme, and said that the Baloch people
would not accept the agreements signed by the government with international companies.
The declaration demanded reunification of all divided Baloch lands into one entity.
In his speech, the Khan of Kalat said that the presence of so many sardars in the Baloch national jirga belied the claim of President
Pervez Musharraf that 72 tribal chiefs were supporting his policy. He asserted that all Baloch people would abide the decision of the
jirga.
Chief of Sarawan Nawab Aslam Raisani said that in accordance with the 1940 Resolution, all nationalities should get their rights,
and except currency, foreign affairs, defence and communications all subjects should be transferred to provinces.
He said that after capturing power, President Musharraf had assured to work for promoting harmony, but now the military rulers
wanted to resolve issues at gun-point. He said that if Kashmiris fighting for their rights were called freedom fighters, the Baloch
should not be dubbed terrorists.
Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that the Baloch people were unfortunate that despite having abundant resources, long coasts and a
rich culture, they were being oppressed by outsiders who had occupied their land. The use of gun, he said, could suppress them
for some time but they would again rise for their rights.
Chief of BNP (Mengal) Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that the Khan of Kalat had gathered all the Baloch at a time when the attention of
international and regional powers was focused on Balochistan.
Sardar Mengal said that the Baloch people would live with honour, dignity and equal rights and with complete control over their
resources. Otherwise, he warned, they would be free to take a decision to protect their sovereign status.
Chief of Magsi tribe Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi said that had the grand jirga been convened when security forces attacked Nawab
Bugti, and not after his death, the situation would have been different today. He said that some forces were trying to exploit the
matter politically.
He also said that no-one must forget that “we had taken oath as governors, chief ministers and ministers on the Constitution that
we are now opposing”. He called for abiding by the decision of the jirga. Nawab Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Dr Hakim Lehri, chief
of Balochistan National Congress, Sardar Asif Mengal, Sardarzada Jehanzeb, Mir Amanullah Zarakzai, Sardar Nadir Badini, Sardar
Rahimdad Lango, BSO chairman Mohinuddin Baloch, Yousuf Masti Khan, Sardar Balkhsher Mazari, Amanullah Kanrani of the JWP,
Mir Taj Muhammad Jamali, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Baloch Students Organisation chairman Bashirzeb Baloch and Sardar Sher
Jamaldini also addressed the Jirga.
Speaking over the phone to His highness King Mir Suleman Dawood Jaan, Dr. Wahid Baloch, President of BSO-NA congratulated
him for convening this historic Grand Baloch Jirga and extended full support to the decision of the Jirga to take Balochistan's case
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). " We are proud of your great leadership and we are fully with you, your Highness, to defend
our Nation against the illegal occupation of our land," he told the khan of Kalat. Dr. Wahid Baloch also spoke and congratulated
Saradar Akhtar Jaan Mengal, who was also present at the occasion, and thanked him for his great leadership.
September 26, 2006 after about 126 years, announced in a declaration that a case would be filed in the International Court of
Justice against the illegal occupation of Balochistan, Exploitations of Baloch resources and gross human right Violation in
Balochistan against Baloch Nation by Pakistani occupying forces.
The Khan of Kalat, King of Balochistan, Mir Suleman Daud Ahmedzai, presided over the jirga held in the Royal Palace (Shahi Hall).
It was attended by 85 tribal chiefs and about 300 elders.
The declaration expressed concern over the ‘colonial occupation’ of the Baloch land by Punjab in violation of the accord signed by
the state of Kalat and the government of Pakistan in 1948.
The declaration was read out by the chief of Jhalawan, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri. It described the ongoing military operation in
Balochistan as state terrorism and called for an immediate end to the operation and release all arrested political workers.
It rejected the Sui tribal jirga’s decision to abolish the Sardari system in the Bugti area and termed the action taken at the behest of
the government an interference in tribal affairs and said that tribal matters should be resolved in accordance with customs and
traditions.
The declaration said that the jirga recognised the heirs of Nawab Akbar Bugti as legitimate owners of the property of the deceased,
adding that it would resist allotment of the property to anyone other than the heirs.
The jirga condemned the tragic incident of Aug 26 in which Nawab Bugti was killed and demanded an investigation into the cause
of his death by the International Human Rights Commission to ascertain the factual position.
The declaration rejected the mega development projects, including the Gwadar uplift programme, and said that the Baloch people
would not accept the agreements signed by the government with international companies.
The declaration demanded reunification of all divided Baloch lands into one entity.
In his speech, the Khan of Kalat said that the presence of so many sardars in the Baloch national jirga belied the claim of President
Pervez Musharraf that 72 tribal chiefs were supporting his policy. He asserted that all Baloch people would abide the decision of the
jirga.
Chief of Sarawan Nawab Aslam Raisani said that in accordance with the 1940 Resolution, all nationalities should get their rights,
and except currency, foreign affairs, defence and communications all subjects should be transferred to provinces.
He said that after capturing power, President Musharraf had assured to work for promoting harmony, but now the military rulers
wanted to resolve issues at gun-point. He said that if Kashmiris fighting for their rights were called freedom fighters, the Baloch
should not be dubbed terrorists.
Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that the Baloch people were unfortunate that despite having abundant resources, long coasts and a
rich culture, they were being oppressed by outsiders who had occupied their land. The use of gun, he said, could suppress them
for some time but they would again rise for their rights.
Chief of BNP (Mengal) Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that the Khan of Kalat had gathered all the Baloch at a time when the attention of
international and regional powers was focused on Balochistan.
Sardar Mengal said that the Baloch people would live with honour, dignity and equal rights and with complete control over their
resources. Otherwise, he warned, they would be free to take a decision to protect their sovereign status.
Chief of Magsi tribe Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi said that had the grand jirga been convened when security forces attacked Nawab
Bugti, and not after his death, the situation would have been different today. He said that some forces were trying to exploit the
matter politically.
He also said that no-one must forget that “we had taken oath as governors, chief ministers and ministers on the Constitution that
we are now opposing”. He called for abiding by the decision of the jirga. Nawab Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Dr Hakim Lehri, chief
of Balochistan National Congress, Sardar Asif Mengal, Sardarzada Jehanzeb, Mir Amanullah Zarakzai, Sardar Nadir Badini, Sardar
Rahimdad Lango, BSO chairman Mohinuddin Baloch, Yousuf Masti Khan, Sardar Balkhsher Mazari, Amanullah Kanrani of the JWP,
Mir Taj Muhammad Jamali, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Baloch Students Organisation chairman Bashirzeb Baloch and Sardar Sher
Jamaldini also addressed the Jirga.
Speaking over the phone to His highness King Mir Suleman Dawood Jaan, Dr. Wahid Baloch, President of BSO-NA congratulated
him for convening this historic Grand Baloch Jirga and extended full support to the decision of the Jirga to take Balochistan's case
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). " We are proud of your great leadership and we are fully with you, your Highness, to defend
our Nation against the illegal occupation of our land," he told the khan of Kalat. Dr. Wahid Baloch also spoke and congratulated
Saradar Akhtar Jaan Mengal, who was also present at the occasion, and thanked him for his great leadership.
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Related Links: |
| Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) is Non-Profit Organization, working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America, to expose the Occupation of our land (Balochistan) and exploitations of our resources by Pakistani and Iranian Governments, and to bring their Human Rights Violations in Balochistan into the world’s Notice. |
| Baloch tribal elders raise their hands to show solidarity during a Jirga or grand assembly in Kalat September 21, 2006. The Jirga was headed by His Highness Mir Suleman Dawood, (L), King Of Balochistan, the Khan of Kalat, to review the political situation in troubled Baluchistan province after the assassination of rebel leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, who was killed by Pakistani security forces inside his cave hideout on August 26, 2006. |