Declaration of Human Rights
Baloch Society Of North America (BSO-NA)
Baloch Society Of North America (BSO-NA)  is working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America and 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.

“On the evening of 26 October 2006, when I had been held incommunicado for six months, I was taken to the Saddar barracks near Karachi,” Mengal
said. “Pervez Musharraf was waiting for me in a room with Gen. Azeem and Maj. Gen. Bajwa. After apologising for the way I had been treated, the
president asked me, in English, to give up my TV station project. He promised to release me if I pulled out of the media domain. He also offered me a
copy of his book so that I could appreciate his commitment to Pakistan. After refusing his deal, I was taken back to my cell and was tortured by MI agents
again.”

Mengal also claimed that Musharraf aide Tariq Aziz offered him a political job and money in return for abandoning the planned TV station, called Baloch
Voice.

“Munir Mengal’s shocking and damning account should prompt Pakistan’s civilian authorities to open an immediate investigation into the case,”
Reporters Without Borders said. “It is inconceivable that those responsible for this political abduction should be allowed to go unpunished.”

The press freedom organisation added: “Mengal was arrested, physically and psychologically tortured, humiliated and robbed by members of the
security forces, above all Military Intelligence. If Pakistan wants to put an end to such illegal and barbaric practices, justice must be done in this case,
which has been the subject of a great deal of comment by the media and by leading figures in Pakistan and abroad.”

Mengal was arrested after landing at Karachi international airport on 4th April 2006. A military officer in civilian dress confiscated his passport and took
him to a military detention centre. “I was physically and psychologically tortured in the Malir barracks by Col. Muhamad Raza and majors Nadim and
Atta,” he said.

“After not letting me sleep for 72 hours, they stepped up their questioning: ‘Why do you want to create this TV station’ and ‘Who gave you the idea and
who is supporting you.’ Then they threw me in a small underground cell. I spent several months blindfolded and handcuffed (...) The first three days of
torture were terrible. I still have back pain from the kicks I received. At the same time, the long interrogation sessions during the first five months were
exhausting mental torture.”

Mengal witnessed many human rights violations in this military-run prison. “A young Balochi woman, Zarina Marri, was used as a sexual slave by the
officers and, to humiliate me, they even once threw her naked into my cell. I did not know what happened to this mother of a family, who was arrested by
the army in our province.”

Mengal said he was also interrogated in June or July 2006 by Iranian agents, who wanted to know about what he had done to promote the cause of the
Baloch, the inhabitants of a mountainous region that includes parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

The intelligence services released him on 4 August 2007, after he had been held incommunicado for more than 16 months. As a result of a public
campaign and court decisions in his favour, the military were forced to smuggle him out of Sindh province, where they had been holding him.

His ordeal should have ended on 10 September 2007, after the high court of the Pakistani province of Balochistan ruled that he had committed no crime
and ordered his immediate release.

But he was arrested two days later and was placed in Khudzar prison in Balochistan. Qalat police chief Abdul Aziz Jhakrani said he was being held
under the Maintenance of Public Order Act. But as his lawyer asked at the time: “How could he be disturbing public order if he was already being held by
the security forces?”

Balochi policemen finally helped him leave Khudzar prison on 23 February as the military were trying to arrest him. “As I was still rejecting their
blackmail, an officer came to the prison to threaten to kill me,” said Mengal, who was finally able to rejoin his family. He went into hiding for several
weeks and then managed to leave country from Turbat airport.

Mengal had the idea of creating a TV station for the Balochi minority in November 2005, at a time when many human rights violations were being
committed in Balochistan. “I was a prominent accountant and fairly prosperous businessman,” he said. “President Musharraf even named me ‘Legend
of the Year’ in August 2005. But I wanted to set up a TV station that would give the Baloch their own voice so I sold all my properties and shares to put
together the 13 million rupees necessary to start up the station. The army stole all this money while I was held. They emptied my 14 bank accounts.”

 A TV station for the Baloch

 The Baloch are Pakistan’s only ethnic minority that do not have a private TV station in their own language. Baloch Voice was to have started satellite
broadcasting in June 2006 after being duly registered by Mengal in the United Arab Emirates. He had planned to reach the six million Baloch living in
South Asia and the Middle East.

Mengal had announced the station’s launch to more than 3,000 people at a public event in Quetta in February 2006. Knowing he was in danger, he
moved to the United Arab Emirates, which was already the station’s main operational base. But on 28 March 2006, he received a call from an official
with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), who invited him to come to Karachi to discuss his request for a licence for Baloch
Voice.

Many Balochi civilians have been arrested and held incommunicado or summarily executed by the Pakistani security forces at part of their efforts to
combat Balochi separatism.

SOURCE:  http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29646

 The man who survived Pakistan's Gestapo
Saturday, December 13, 2008

 By Rahimullah Yusufzai

 Businessman Munir Mengal's disclosures about his 22 months' detention in Pakistan are shocking and painful. The only known reason for his arrest
and torture at the hands of former president Pervez Musharraf's government was his intention to launch a Balochi language satellite television channel,
Baloch Voice. If even half of his allegations are true, it would be easier for us to understand why so many Baloch are angry and willing to pick up the gun
and fight for their rights.

For the first time after his arrest on April 4, 2006, and his release in February 2008, Munir Mengal has spoken in detail about his ordeal. He was
interviewed in an unnamed European country where he has found refuge by the Reporters without Borders (or Reporters sans frontieres), a Europe-
based non-governmental organisation dedicated to the freedom of the press.

In a press release issued on Dec 11, Reporters without Borders, said: "Munir Mengal's shocking and damning account should prompt Pakistan's
civilian authorities to open an immediate investigation into the case. It is inconceivable that those responsible for this political abduction should be
allowed to go unpunished." The strong-worded press release added: "Mengal was arrested, physically and psychologically tortured, humiliated and
robbed by members of the security forces, above all Military Intelligence. If Pakistan wants to put an end to such illegal and barbaric practices, justice
must be done in this case, which has been the subject of a great deal of comment by the media and by leading figures in Pakistan and abroad."

Munir Mengal wasn't doing anything illegal or in secret. From his account it is obvious that he was getting his TV station registered in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), where Dubai has emerged as the operational base for a growing number of satellite television channels, including some with
Pakistani ownership. He had publicly announced the launch of his TV channel to more than 3,000 people at a major event in Quetta in February 2006.
And he had willingly decided to come to Pakistan from the UAE after receiving a call on March 28, 2006, from an official of the Pakistan Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), who invited him to come to Karachi to discuss his request for a license for Baloch Voice.

Munir Mengal alleged that, upon arrival at the Karachi airport on April 4 that year, an army officer in civilian dress confiscated his passport and took him
to a military detention centre. In his interview, he named the army colonel and two majors who physically and psychologically tortured him at the military
barracks at Malir in Karachi. He recalled how he wasn't allowed to sleep for 72 hours and then thrown into a small underground cell where he spent
several months blindfolded and handcuffed. He alleged suffered physical and mental torture at the hands of his captors, who kept asking him why he
wanted to set up the Baloch Voice TV channel and as to who gave him the idea and support for the project.

Some of the claims and allegations made by Munir Mengal constitute explosive stuff. For example, he alleged that he was taken to see Gen Musharraf
in some army barracks in Saddar in Karachi, where the then president offered to release him if he agreed to abandon his TV station project. The date
was Oct 26, 2006, and Munir Mengal had been held incommunicado for six months. The meeting, in Munir Mengal's words, went like this: "Pervez
Musharraf was waiting for me in a room with Gen Azeem and Maj Gen Bajwa. After apologising for the way I had been treated, the president asked me,
in English, to give up my TV station project. He promised to release me if I pulled out of the media domain. He also offered me a copy of his book so that
I could appreciate his commitment to Pakistan. After refusing his deal, I was taken back to my cell and was tortured by MI agents again." Mengal also
claimed that Musharraf aide Tariq Aziz offered him a political job and money in return for abandoning the planned TV station.

Munir Mengal claims to have witnessed many human rights violation during his detention. He alleged that a young Baloch woman was sexually tortured
and once thrown naked into his cell for his humiliation. He wasn't aware as to what happened eventually to her.

Another allegation made by Munir Mengal is about his interrogation by Iranian agents in June or July 2006. The Iranians wanted to know as to what he
had done to promote the cause of the Baloch, who inhabit not only parts of Pakistan but also Iran's Sistan-Balochistan province and Afghanistan's
Helmand and Nimruz provinces. Until now we had heard and read about American secret agents interrogating Pakistanis and foreigners captured in
Pakistan but this is the first time that allegations about Iranians being allowed to interrogate Pakistani Baloch have been made. If true, this means that
Iranian and Pakistani authorities are cooperating in tackling their common Baloch problem.

All these are serious allegations and will surely be used by Baloch nationalists to stoke the fire of resistance and even separatism. Though the present
democratically elected government wasn't involved in arresting and torturing Munir Mengal and the command of the Pakistan Army has changed, the
present set of rulers owe it to the nation and the Baloch people to clarify the situation in view of the negative fallout of the allegations made against
Military Intelligence. The military command too should respond to Munir Mengal's allegations, as holding someone in custody for 22 long months and
torturing him merely for his planning to launch a Balochi TV channel is beyond reason and unacceptable. President Asif Ali Zardari, himself a Baloch,
has already sought forgiveness from the Baloch people for the five military operations, including one ordered by his late father-in-law, former prime
minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and taken some steps to remove their grievances. But a lot more needs to be done to inspire hope among the Baloch in the
federation of Pakistan. It is time for the politicians to undo the wrongs and heal the wounds of the Baloch people, who have suffered immensely in every
military operation that was launched to crush their struggle for constitutional rights.

Munir Mengal was released by the intelligence services on August 4, 2007, after being held incommunicado for around 16 months in Sindh. By then a
public campaign for his release had been launched by Baloch political parties and organisations like the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the
South Asia Free Media Association and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The courts had also been approached on his behalf and decisions
given in his favour. The Balochistan High Court ordered his release on Sept 10, 2007, after ruling that he had committed no crime. However, he was
kept in Khuzdar province in Balochistan under the Maintenance of Public Order Act on the ridiculous charge that he was disturbing public order, despite
his being in captivity. His woes finally ended on Feb 23 this year, but not before someone in the security services threatened to kill him. Following his
release, Munir Mengal stayed in hiding for several weeks before managing to leave the country from Turbat airport in Balochistan. From the safety of his
European abode, he has now told the story of his ordeal while in custody of an intelligence agency.

As the name of his aborted TV channel, Baloch Voice, suggests, Munir Mengal wanted to give a voice to his people at a time when human rights
violations were being committed in Balochistan and many Baloch had gone missing. He was a prosperous businessman and had even been given a
"Legend of the Year" award by President Musharraf in August 2005. He had sold his properties and raised Rs13 million to start up the TV station.
Instead he landed in a secret detention cell and lost his money. His plans to launch the Baloch Voice TV channel in June 2006 are now in tatters.

At a time when private TV channels are mushrooming and the number of stations broadcasting in national languages such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto
and Saraiki is growing, it is unfair to deny permission for a Balochi language television channel. According to an estimate there are six million Baloch
living in South Asia and in the Middle East, where they have found work and prosperity. One way of undoing the wrongs committed against the Baloch
people and removing the grievances of Munir Mengal and others like him is to allow a Balochi TV channel to operate from Pakistan. The Baloch must be
given their provincial rights and encouraged to join the political mainstream if the Pakistani establishment wants Balochistan to stabilise and remain a
proud and willing unit of the federation of Pakistan.

The writer is resident editor of The News in Peshawar. Email: rahimyusufzai @yahoo.com

courtesy of The NEWS International

 Govt tried to bribe me to give up Baloch TV project: Mengal

 * Says Musharraf promised to release him for abandoning planned TV station in 2006
* RSF says Mengal’s ‘shocking and damning account’ should prompt immediate probe

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Baloch businessman Munir Mengal, who was arrested for launching a Baloch satellite TV station and was held for 22 months by Military
Intelligence and the police, has said the federal government tried to bribe him for abandoning the project.

He said this in an interview with world media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in France where he was granted political asylum.

Mengal told RSF that, while held incommunicado, he was taken to see then-president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, who asked him to abandon his TV
station project in return for his release.

Meeting with Musharraf: “On the evening of October 26, 2006, when I had been held incommunicado for six months, I was taken to the Saddar barracks
near Karachi,” Mengal said.

“Pervez Musharraf was waiting for me in a room with General Azeem and Major-General Bajwa. After apologising for the way I had been treated, the
president asked me, in English, to give up my TV station project.

“He promised to release me if I pulled out of the media domain. He also offered me a copy of his book so that I could appreciate his commitment to
Pakistan. After refusing his deal, I was taken back to my cell and was tortured by MI agents again.”

Mengal also claimed that Musharraf aide Tariq Aziz offered him a political job and money in return for abandoning the planned TV station, called Baloch
Voice.

Mengal was arrested after landing at Karachi international airport on April 4, 2006. A military officer in civilian dress confiscated his passport and took
him to a military detention centre. “I was physically and psychologically tortured in the Malir barracks by Colonel Muhamad Raza and majors Nadim and
Atta,” he said.

“After not letting me sleep for 72 hours, they stepped up their questioning… Then they threw me in a small underground cell. I spent several months
blindfolded and handcuffed... I still have back pain from the kicks I received.”

Mengal said he was also interrogated in June or July 2006 by Iranian agents, who wanted to know about what he had done to promote the cause of the
Baloch, the inhabitants of a mountainous region that includes parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

The intelligence services released him on August 4, 2007, after he had been held incommunicado for more than 16 months. A public campaign and
court decisions in his favour forced the military to smuggle Mengal out of Sindh province.

RSF plea: “Munir Mengal’s shocking and damning account should prompt Pakistan’s civilian authorities to open an immediate investigation into the
case,” RSF said. “It is inconceivable that those responsible for this political abduction should be allowed to go unpunished,” it added.

SOURCE: Dailytimes.com.pk/  

 Munir Mengals Briefing at France Paris‏
Hello,

 Dear brothers please give a news from baloch voice tv media reporter that;

Munir Mengal Managing Director of Baloch Voice TV has reached at Farance Paris on the invitation of RWB and Prisca on behalf of RWB has welcomed
Munir Mengal at the Paris (Chales De Guale) Air Port. The Baloch Voice team is thankful to the French Govt. and RWB for their such support to Baloch
Journalists and Media Organizations. Munir Mengal on his arrival to Charles De Gaule Airport Paris thanked French Govt. and RWB for their Co-
ordination on such difficult time.
Further Mr. Mengal said that the facist and terrorist forces disguised in any shape are unacceptable to the world and hummanity. I pay regards to the
French people for their history of revolutions and struggle for the freedom of their land and for their Nation. Today the French Identity is live and librate
due to there struggle and sacrifices.

Today the whole world see that Baloch Nation, Balochi language, Culture, Land and Dynasty is chained by islamofacist Pakistani Forces and the Baloch
Nation will one day get its freedom.

I Munir Mengal and Baloch Voice team has promised with our nation that our struggle for freedom of Media to Baloch Nation will continue. And the world
must recognize this fact that if they see us as human beings then they shall realise and recognize this fact that they shall support our struggle against
islamofacist Paki Forces in every sphere of life.

Baloch voice intends to raise the real picture and idealogy of Baloch Nation to the world. The Europian Schollars must analyze the basic pillars of
Nationalisim of Baloch People and there resembleness to Europian Nationalisim. On the day we got access to independent and free media we will
explore the Baloch Nation Culture, Customs, Traditions, Music, Arts, Poetry, Idealogy, Thoughts and Languages.

Why today the world is ignorant about Baloch and Balochistan issue because even the print media in Balochistan is chained by the govt. by many ways.
Where you see Daily Tawar reporters being physically tortured by the Islamofacist paki forces and on the other side you see Daily Assap which has
been made a symbol of sanctions by financial embargo. And here you you see Munir Mengal the symbol of Baloch Electronic media which has been
illegally detained by Islamofacist Millitary Intelligencia for more than Two years. The Baloch media has passed from such sort of hard times just for the
principals and realities of freedom of media the international community can not even immagine such efforts.

I would like to highlight this fact to the International media specifically that today we have thinkers and philosphers like Rouso, Carl Marks, Chomasky,
Sheikis Pier,and Dr. Chegavera. But we (the International community) needs eyes and eyes like by means of free and transparent media to see and
hear to them.

We must analyze the Idealogy of Nawab Khairbux Marri and Dr. Allah Nizar on the basis of real Nationalisim. By such Idealogy today the world of Europe
is living a peacefull and harmony life. If we cannot support them in any means then we shall not criticise them negatively with knowing and listening to
them. Unless and untill we do not have a clear and in depth analysis of any idealogy we would not be in possition expolre realities with respect to that.
The boundaries are sketched on the basis of culture, traditions, casts, creeds and thousand of years of civilisation. But with respect to Pakistan then
why it is sketched on the basis of religion. Whether a land has a religion...? and the humanbeings have to follow that in any condition because.......?

A bomb has a religion that is why Pakistan nominated its atomic bomb as Islamic bomb. Because it has been built to kill Non Muslims .....?
Today Balochs have their own thousands of years history, culture language and even untill many of them are Zakris that is why Pakistan is bombaring
them or for something else the world must make efforts to know the realities.

As yesterday Mr. Slaig Harison took the bold step went to Balochistan to know and analyze the real idealogy of Baloch people and today on such basis
the the RWB has taken the stap in order to must not leave the Baloch Journalists alone.

My dear Baloch analysists, writers, thinkers, poets and artists today you live in my heart I am struggling all the way to highlight your efforts. Today you are
my courage to stand with us (Baloch Voice TV) under every hard and soft conditions. All of you know that building an independent TV channel is not so
easy.

We have a complete check and balance system in our organisation. And we will audit our accounts by international Audit Firms in order to make it a
complete transparent organization as per international standards.

Although today we are weak but we will stand on our own legs. We have the courage to lein forward under entire difficult situations. I say this message
clearly to Millitary Intellegencia Officers and their co company the Balochistan cheif Minister and his team that by seizing my Bank Accounts you must not
think that the Media and Journalisim personells will bow their heads and beg from you people. Today all those peoples who know the power of Pen and
Media and have the courage to speak for rights, truth and realities are our friends and all the facist and zionist forces are your facist and pseudo power
but we aim and intend that tomorrow we will win.

Today I ask the international organizations and national organizations and personalities be our parterners and support us on principals and on the
basis of realities. That day will be a great day for the Balochs, for the Humanity, for the International media, Philanthropists and for the freedom of
speech organizations. Our achievements in the field of media shall be our success.

Thanks to all

 Munir Mengal

 Managing Director of Proposed
TV channel Baloch Voice

France Paris
Thanks


From the Desk of
Baloch Voice TV International Correspondent
Balochi TV station director says he was held
incommunicado for 16 months and tortured
on Pervez Musharraf’s orders Government
urged to investigate Military Intelligence

 Pakistani businessman Munir Mengal, a member of the Balochi minority who was arrested for planning to launch a
Balochi satellite TV station and was held for 22 months by Military Intelligence and the police, has talked to Reporters
Without about his ordeal. He was interviewed in the European country where he has found refuge.

Mengal told Reporters Without Borders that, while held incommunicado, he was taken to see the then president, Gen.
Pervez Musharraf, who asked him to abandon his TV station project in return for his release.
As yesterday Mr. Slaig Harison took the bold step went to Balochistan to know and analyze the real idealogy of Baloch people and today on such basis
the the RWB has taken the stap in order to must not leave the Baloch Journalists alone.

My dear Baloch analysists, writers, thinkers, poets and artists today you live in my heart I am struggling all the way to highlight your efforts. Today you
are my courage to stand with us (Baloch Voice TV) under every hard and soft conditions. All of you know that building an independent TV channel is not
so easy.

We have a complete check and balance system in our organisation. And we will audit our accounts by international Audit Firms in order to make it a
complete transparent organization as per international standards.

Although today we are weak but we will stand on our own legs. We have the courage to lein forward under entire difficult situations. I say this message
clearly to Millitary Intellegencia Officers and their co company the Balochistan cheif Minister and his team that by seizing my Bank Accounts you must
not think that the Media and Journalisim personells will bow their heads and beg from you people. Today all those peoples who know the power of Pen
and Media and have the courage to speak for rights, truth and realities are our friends and all the facist and zionist forces are your facist and pseudo
power but we aim and intend that tomorrow we will win.

Today I ask the international organizations and national organizations and personalities be our parterners and support us on principals and on the
basis of realities. That day will be a great day for the Balochs, for the Humanity, for the International media, Philanthropists and for the freedom of
speech organizations. Our achievements in the field of media shall be our success.

Thanks to all

 Munir Mengal

 Managing Director of Proposed
TV channel Baloch Voice

France Paris

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