Welcome to BSO

Respected Generalist,

I am very thankful to you for being here with us. Your impartial and unprejudiced attitude towards the Baloch issue
deserves appreciation. There are a lot of journalists in Pakistan who have joined hands with the rulers for earning
a few pennies, but there are others too who are courageous enough to raise the Baloch issue. Let me say that
the Baloch problem has never been addressed in its true context in Pakistan. This has made it more and more
complex and intricate. The intelligentsia is presenting various solutions to the Baloch problems, but they are still
confounding.

MARRI CAMP OPERATION

In today's press conference, the objective was to make you aware of the real situation with regards to the Marri
camp, but availing this opportunity, I will elaborate on the Baloch matter without which the Marri camp operation
could only remain obscure.

The matter commences with the advent of the British. Throughout the history, from east to west and from north to
south, Balochistan remained the only land route for travelers, so its importance enticed the British to attack it on
November 13, 1839. The then Baloch ruler, Mir Mehrab Khan laid down his life resisting the British. After that the
Marri, Bugti and other tribes waged guerrilla war against the British.   The British rulers soon realized the nature of
the Baloch people and first in 1854 and then in 1872 reached agreements with the Kalat rulers and, instead of
ruling it directly like the other Indian states, just made it sure that their interests remain protected.   The British
never claimed Balochistan as their colony but always acknowledged its independent status. Sir W.L. Metrother
who was appointed to judge the British-Kalat bilateral relations wrote:
"Whatever it may be, either Kalat or Balochistan, Khan is its real and legal ruler. We have reached several
agreements with him. He would not harm the    British interests. Agreements have been reached recognizing his
independent status".

When the British decided to leave their colony after the devastation brought unto them by the World War II, the Kalat
rulers reminded them of their independent status. This is of great interest that Muhammad Ali Jinnah fought the
independence case of Kalat at the cabinet mission in 1946 as its legal advisor. Mr. Jinnah presented a
memorandum at the cabinet mission which was prepared by Mr. I. I. Chundigar, Sir Sultan Ahmed and Sirdar S.K.
Memon; the memorandum reminded of the Sir W.L. Metrother's proposal and demanded acknowledgement of the
independent status of Kalat.

In 1946, Mr. I. I. Chundigar who later became Pakistan's prime minister in 1956 wrote in his memoirs regarding
the independence of Kalat: "Kalat is not an Indian state, the British recognizing its geographical importance and
its vicinity to India held special relations with it, it is just like Iran and Afghanistan. The state of Kalat does not
show any interest in either joining the Indian federation or other such after it. So I request your honor to announce
the independence of Kalat state".

Besides that, on July 30, 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah clarified his policy of not intervening in the internal affairs of
the autonomous states and recognized their right to decide their fate.

After all, an agreement was reached among representatives of the British government, Pakistani government and
the government of Kalat, which was announced on August 04, 1947. The clause #1 of the agreement reads
"Government of Pakistan recognizes Kalat as an independent and autonomous state. It has enjoyed bilateral
relations with the British government and its status has been different than the other Indian states.

The Khan of Kalat formally declared his independence on August 12, 1947. After that the elections for the Kalat
parliament, which consisted of the House of Commons and the House of Lords were held. These elections
witnessed landsliding victory for the Kalat State National Party. It was all going fine till this point in time, but soon
after the creation of Pakistan Mr. Jinnah and other Muslim League leaders started coercing the Khan of Kalat to
accede to Pakistan.

On December 14, 1947, the House of Commons unanimously rejected the unification offer with Pakistan; the
Kalat National Party leaders said that they can't sign a "death warrant" that would only lead to the demise of the
Balochi wishes.

On January 14, 1948, the meeting of House of Lords adopted the following resolution.

"This House does not recognize unification with Pakistan because this would jeopardize the separate identity of
the Baloch."

The Government of Pakistan should have respected this democratic decision of the Baloch people but the
Pakistani government coerced the Khan of Kalat to sign a document regarding unification with Pakistan and, to
suppress the public reaction, the Quetta Brigade was ordered to invade Kalat.

The Pakistani rulers justify this act by saying that this act of unification was not undemocratic as the Khan himself
had signed it. But this is wrong as such right only rested with the two houses of Kalat state. The Pakistani
government makes this a basis of their standpoint that the Maharaja of Kashmir had signed the unification
document with India without public support. Why the Pakistani rulers are considering the signature by the Khan
the decision of the Baloch people, even though he had signed it under threats.

Respectable journalists!

As the unification was not that endorsed by the Baloch, they never accepted this unconstitutional, unnatural,
undemocratic and forcible unification. Just a few weeks after the unification, the Baloch people rose to resist for
the restoration of their independent status under the leadership of Khan of Kalat's younger brother and the
governor of Makuran, Agha Abdul Karim.

The government of Pakistan, through Khan of Kalat, asked Prince Abdul Karim to come at the table to resolve the
matter. They assured him swearing by the Holy Quran that he would not be harmed. But when the Prince came
down to have the talks, he was arrested with his friends and put behind the bars.

Respectable journalists!

The real story is that neither the Pakistani government has ever regarded the Baloch as its citizens nor the Baloch
have accepted Pakistan as their homeland. The Pakistani government considers Balochistan its occupied land
and the Baloch have been striving to win their freedom.

My friends!

Most of you must be aware of the painful story of military operation in Balochistan. The Pakistani military forces
broke through Kalat, arrested the Khan, and gunned down the flag of Balochistan flying on a mosque which too
partially collapsed and the Balochi flag was replaced by the Pakistani flag. Balochistan was captured again, but
the barbarianism of Pakistani forces could not win the hearts of the Baloch. A 90-year-old man Babu Nauroz Khan
led them again to the mountains and had a showdown with the Pakistani forces. For two years, Baloch continued
the resistance under his leadership making Pakistani forces incurs heavy losses. At the end, the Pakistani forces
failing to defeat him on the battlefield used the Holy Quran instead to win them the battle. The Pakistani forces
swore by the Holy Quran and said that if Babu Nauroz Khan came down the mountains and told them about his
demands he would not be harmed. But the agreement was blatantly violated and he was arrested with his
comrades and imprisoned in Hyderabad. His seven companions were hanged to martyrdom and he himself later
passed away in the prison at the age of 92.

Respectable journalists!

The Pakistani rulers thought that this genocide and barbarianism has overcome the Baloch. But in the 1970s, the
Baloch again headed towards the mountains for the sake of their freedom and showed great organization this
time. Pakistani government did not consider its strength sufficient to topple the Baloch so they took the
assistance of the Shah of Iran to attack Balochistan. The Iranian helicopters indiscriminately bombarded human
settlements and destroyed them. The innocent people were thrown out of the helicopters, the respectable and
graceful daughters of the Baloch were sold in the markets, and thousands were put to death. This continued for
four years. The authenticity of these lines could be checked from different books and essays written about this
matter by unprejudiced writers.

Respectable journalists!

So many Baloch are brutally tortured in the notorious torture camps, either murdered or rendered disabled. Not
only men but children are also being tortured and martyred. Just recently, 10 nails of an eight-year boy were
pulled out. Can you imagine that an eight-year boy could carry a rocket or fire a Kalashnikov?

My friends!

How many of you could recall the Mian Gundi incident where several farmers were killed while participating in a
peaceful procession against the increased power charges. How we could forget the young martyrs of Mushkay
who were killed by indiscriminately fired upon just because they were demanding food supplies. How we could
forget the young Yasmin who was killed along her mother and brother just because she was demanding water
supply. What crime had the innocents of Awaran committed for they were riddled with bullets? Just recently, three
ladies from the Bugti tribe were killed by the Punjab Rangers because they were drawing water out of a well. How
could we forget these incidents?

Respectable journalists!

Fifty five years have elapsed but the Pakistani rulers continue with the anti-Baloch policies. To make their efforts
more effective, military garrisons are being built in almost every Balochi town. Hundreds of acres of lands have
been acquired for this purpose in Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Guwadar. Someone has said if you want to capture a
foreign country build the garrisons at the borders but if you want to capture your own land then build them deep
within the borders in the towns. Yes! The building of garrisons in the cities means capturing the Baloch people. If
this is not the case then what borders are abutting Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Gwadar that the rulers are so anxious to
build garrisons there? Sui and Kohlu were two towns in a single district sometime ago but now they intend to
build two garrisons there. It is said that garrisons would bring prosperity to the people. It is strange that prosperity
is interrelated with military garrisons, but to our surprise no nation in the world has ever developed on the basis of
just building multitude of garrisons.

Respected journalists!

The Baloch are being turned into minority through fake mega projects so the Baloch resistance against the
plundering of their resources could be put down. Could someone explain it what development is this that is being
brought by overwhelming gun power? We have just witnessed this progress in the form of Shadi Khor dam
breaking down, leaving 500 people dead. A small project like this could lead to such a disaster, what would be
the Baloch left with when such "mega projects" be completed; even the thought of this makes us tremble.

Yes! We are being developed through the might of guns. You could recall the recent Makuran operation. You
could go and ask the Pakistani forces that during the course of that operation how many insurgents were
arrested. The reality is this, the Makuran operation was waged just to pacify the Baloch with brutal force so that
they could not be able to protest against the mega projects. The ladies were harassed, the innocent people were
made to live out of their houses for the whole nights, and hundreds of political activists were arrested and tortured
so they could not speak against the violation of their rights. So much so that a report was published in the local
newspapers that water in the canals was poisoned leading to the death of many a people and scores of cattle.

After Makuran, attention was turned towards Sui where a whole division of army was deployed. Hundreds of
houses were razed. Three hundred people were arrested and houses are still being searched. On 7th, 8th and
9th January 2005, FC and DSG's indiscriminate firing and bombardment led to the death of eight civilians
including women and children.

The lady doctor's rape is an unforgiving incident in the Baloch society. After the holy Quran, ladies are regarded
the most sacred in the Baloch society. If someone wants evidence, then he should look back into history where
the greatest Baloch leader Mir Chakar Khan fought with Mir Gwahram for 30 years just because his people were
involved in slaughtering a lady's cattle. A youngman Doda laid down his life defending a lady who had taken
refuge in his territory. Even today, if a lady enters the house of a murdered man, the family forgives the murderer.
And if a lady intervenes, a fight between tribes comes to an end. In a society where a lady is respected, honored
and regarded so much, reaction to a lady's disgrace could easily be foreseen. The rape of an innocent and
helpless lady doctor and the patronage of the culprit by the authorities could only incite a Balochi reaction. Just a
few days ago, president Musharaf said that Captain Hammad is totally innocent. This is a strange land where a
General decides the fate of alleged, not the courts. Even if he is innocent, he should first be arrested and made to
appear before the court to prove his innocence there. But here adversely, the Baloch are being arrested. "We are
securing the national installation" they say, are these "national installations" more precious than a lady's honor
and reputation.

These installations are of course national, but Baloch national. This wealth of natural gas belongs to the Baloch
people but they are the only ones who are denied. The image of the Pakistan Army has been tarnished in the
Balochi eyes after this incident of gang rape in Sui and they hate the forces more than ever now. The forces
disgraced the Baloch in 1948, 1958 and 1973-1978 and the Baloch have not yet forgotten it. This lady doctor's
gang rape has added much to this hatred. The Pakistani forces have always been notorious in this regard. The
rape of 20,000 Bengali women by the Pakistani forces makes the Baloch to be more cautious. You might have
gone through the news that was published a few days ago. Three Pakistani soldiers in the UN peacekeeping
army are being interrogated because they are said to have gang raped a lady. The Baloch are concerned when
the forces having this sort of character would become their masters by capturing their homeland, who could
guarantee their respect and honor. Who could expect justice in a country where the President backs a rapist?

My respected journalists!

I would now turn your attention towards the recent Marri camp operation which should be seen in the context of 55-
year anti-Baloch history of Pakistani forces. Fifteen hundred policemen raid the Marri camp, houses were brought
down, and women and children were made to stand beneath the open sky at night in the freezing cold of Quetta.
The DIG Quetta announced "We have flown the Pakistani flag there, Marri camp has been captured."

As I mentioned earlier that the Kalat state flag was brought down from a mosque in Kalat and was replaced by the
Pakistani flag. The Pakistani forces seem not to have changed much in this regard. To replace a flag is a gesture
that suggests that some nation thinks it superior to the other. The attitude of the rulers is sufficient to suggest that
they consider the Baloch their subjects or slaves. For them, Balochistan stays a colony which they have deprived
of resources for the last 55 years and they have bestowed upon the Baloch the dead bodies of their loved ones.
Under these circumstances to expect that Baloch would rise the slogan "Long live Pakistani" would merely be
preposterous.

Dear journalists!

Could you ask the authorities why the Marri camp operation was carried out and why the houses were razed?
They claim that it was a terrorist hideout and heavy weapons have been seized from there. You might have seen
the pictures of this camp where men lived in huts, how could these poor own these costly weapons. The real
version of this story is that the police brought heavy weapons along it and, after the photo session, took them
back. In this operation, 20 were arrested, including three women. Were these women involved in rocket attacks?
It is really shameful that to harm the Baloch people, the forces are involved in torturing the Balochi women and
kids. If Musharaf is so brave and courageous, then why he does not raid the alleged guerrilla camps (which the
central and provincial governments claim are in the mountains). They just make this pretext that the operation is
being carried out against the guerillas but treat the innocents brutally. The same thing happened in Makuran.
There, the mountains, where the guerrillas were allegedly hiding, were never raided but the village of Zamuran
was besieged. No one was let to get in or go out of the village and people were made to live without food and
water for many a days. The same thing occurred in Sui where the forces did not give the armed man a fight but
rendered the innocent targeted by opening indiscriminate fire on them. The same thing occurred in Marri camp.

The rulers say that a check-post has been established in the Marri camp. The   garrisons are being made in
almost every town and check-posts are being set up in each nook and corner. What is the purpose of this? The
Baloch are being suppressed so that they could be made quiet and thus unable to raise their voices.

During the Vietnam War, an American army officer was asked why so many villages have been destroyed. He
simply answered, "Just to prevent the village, we had to destroy it". This was a statement made by an American
army officer intoxicated with power but he was not aware of the fact that the determined Vietnamese would defeat
them some day. The same fate awaits the Pakistani forces.

Dear journalists!

Now we come to the solution of the Baloch national question. All the solutions that have so far been suggested
are all unreal and unnatural. We have to look into this matter with impartiality.

A few state selected parliamentary members are being considered the representatives of Balochistan, which is a
big mistake. The Baloch question should be resolved according to the circumstances and the wishes of the
Baloch people.

Looking the matter in its historical context, nor the Pakistani rulers have ever regarded Baloch as the citizen of this
country nor the Baloch have ever considered Pakistan as their homeland. Because of this gruesome attitude, the
Baloch have hated the rulers more than ever and resisted them. We know that this unwanted unification of the
Baloch would raise apprehensions in the hearts and minds of the Baloch and they would resort to more and more
violence. Not only more and more Baloch would suffer heavy losses, the Pakistani rulers would also incur
irreparable losses. We want that this problem should be resolved through autonomy. Neither the Baloch would
stop resistance nor would the Pakistani rulers halt barbarian acts of terror against the Baloch. The Balochi people
have never accepted unification with Pakistan. But owing to the recent incidents, the Baloch have been so
severely hurt and this augmented by the excesses in the past, they can now not be enticed by talks, provincial
autonomy and royalty.

It is being said that we will give this and that thing to you. We would simply ask when the Pakistani authorities
cannot keep their promises with Prince Abdul Karim in 1948 and then they promise swearing by Quran not to
harm Babu Nauroz Khan and not keep their promise, how could we expect them to keep their promises now. It is
being said that we would give constitutional coverage to their rights, the constitution that could not distinguish
whether a uniformed president is a legal or constitutional one or not cannot ensure our rights. What is the say of
constitution in Pakistan? It is just like a concubine in one's harem that is played with whenever wished. We would
not be lured by these constitutional coverage and promises. Unless and until the Balochi independence and self
determination is ensured and Baloch are made the masters of their land, the problem can't be resolved.

Respected journalists!

We would observe a week-long protest commencing from 1st to 7th March 2005 against razing the houses of the
poor Baloch, torturing the women, arresting three ladies, arrest of another 20 old men and children, and violating
the Baloch sanctity. Throughout this whole week, BSO (United) would demonstrate against these immoral acts
and we would observe a complete strike on 8th March 2005. It should be made clear here that our patience has
reached its limits and the circumstances are being pushed towards a civil war, the brunt of which has to be borne
by the Punjabi colonialists.

LONG LIVE BALOCHISTAN

LONG LIVE THE BALOCHI MOVEMENT

NOTE: This is the press conference after which Dr. Allah Nazar, Dr. Imdad, Dr. Yousuf , Dr. Naseem, Ghulam
Rasool, Akhtar Nadeem and Gohar Nawaz were picked up by the Pakistani intelligence agencies in the dismal
darkness of the night and after two months, they released Dr. Imdad, Dr. Yousuf, Dr. Naseem and Ghulam
Rasool. The other three friends, no one knows yet of their fate, whether they are alive or have been martyred like
their predecessors. Let’s pray for them and work together for their release…

Thank you