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Pak Govt. giving covert support to Taliban in
Quetta to suppress Balochs Sanaullah Baloch
QUETTA, Jan 5 : The Pakistan Government is providing covert support to the Taliban to capture land in eastern and western Quetta in order to
undermine the Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan.
Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator, Sanaullah Baloch, said the government is fully aware of these
encroachments, but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of the government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the
religious elements against the Baloch nationalists.
The Daily Times quoted Baloch as saying that the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their supporters were
consolidating their grip.
Several parts of the provincial capital have become 'no-go areas' where the Taliban and their supporters have consolidated their position, he added.
"We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government," Baloch said.
"Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government, but the
state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in Balochistan,"
he said.
Baloch said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces.
The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and terrorism in the
country's largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the 'alarmingly dangerous moves' of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. --- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-69216.html
Taliban consolidating grip on
Quetta: Sanaullah Baloch
Monday, January 05, 2009
* BNP leader says ‘establishment’ wants to pitch Taliban against Baloch nationalists
* Says Taliban supporters have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in Quetta * PPP has taken no steps to increase prospects of reconciliation
* Demands more Baloch control and larger share in mining projects
By Malik Siraj Akbar
QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator Sanaullah Baloch has disclosed that the supporters of Taliban
have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in the eastern and western parts of Quetta with the covert support of the ‘establishment’ in order to undermine the
Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan.
In an interview with Daily Times on Sunday, the former senator said the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their
supporters were consolidating their grip. Several parts of the provincial capital have become ‘no-go areas’ where the Taliban and their supporters have
consolidated their position, he said.
Baloch said the government was fully aware of these encroachments but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of the
government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the religious elements against the Baloch nationalists.
“We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government. Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government,
but the state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in
Balochistan,” he said.
Sanaullah said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces. The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and
terrorism in the country’s largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the ‘alarmingly dangerous moves’ of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. “The government is making Balochistan a battlefield again,” he said.
The operations have made the militant groups end their ceasefire which would further deteriorate the security situation, he said. The Baloch leadership
had welcomed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government despite the imprisonment of its leadership with the hope that the PPP would learn
lessons from the past and pay serious attention to the Baloch issue, he said, adding: “We have deep respect for the PPP and its leaders but we are not
going to compromise on the Baloch interests at the cost of our friendship with the PPP leaders. The democratic as well as armed groups in the
province are losing faith in the present government.”
Reconciliation: Asked if the BNP and other Baloch leaders welcomed the recent statement of PPP leader Babar Awan that “the Baloch would hear good
news in March”, Sanullah accused the PPP leadership of using ‘delaying tactics’. In 1977, the PPP had delayed the resolution of the Baloch issue by
hoping that the crisis in Balochistan would gradually fade away, Baloch said, adding that the PPP was showing a lack of interest in Balochistan again by
not understanding the urgency needed to permanently resolve the issue.
“In politics you need to reconcile at the right time. Timeliness is a crucial factor in politics which the PPP seems to be missing in Balochistan’s context,”
he commented. Recalling a promise made by late Benazir Bhutto, the former PPP chairperson, who had agreed in the Charter of Democracy to
establish federal tribunals to settle the cases of the provinces against the federal government, besides ensuring complete provincial autonomy to the
provinces, Baloch said the PPP did not take any initiatives that would brighten the prospects of reconciliation.
Citing the failure of the reconciliatory committees formed by the previous government, Sanaullah Baloch said the Baloch had always agreed to sit on the
negotiation table and sort out the problems, but the government had been calling them terrorists and traitors. “We have asked the PPP government to
punish the elements who carried out massive human rights violation and remove the unnecessary FC checkposts in Balochistan so that we see some
progress made by the government as a confidence-building measure. But our demands have not been met yet.”
Mines and minerals: The BNP leader demanded the local Baloch youth be given technical know-how in mining and geological sectors so that they
could handle the Saindak and Reko Dik projects.
“We want agreements on the Saindak Gold and Copper project and Reko Dik to be reviewed. The chief minister issued such statements recently but no
headway has been made yet in this regard. The Baloch share in the revenue generated at Saindak project is merely 2 percent while the federal
government takes 48 percent, and 50 percent goes to China. This is an unjust formula that needs to be revised. We consider this utter exploitation,” he
said, recommending that bidding should be conducted in the international stock exchanges for the interested mining companies that want to run these
projects. “The government of Balochistan should be given the right to choose the company that can best run these projects while keeping in view the
fact that the benefits of the projects should go to the people of Balochistan,” said the former senator.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg1_11
Three Baloch groups formally end ceasefire
QUETTA: Three armed groups in Balochistan on Sunday announced the formal end of a four-month-old unilateral ceasefire in response to the security
forces’ continued military operation in the province.
Declaring the end of the ceasefire, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) spokesman Bibarg Baloch said the BLA, the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA)
and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) were disappointed by the government’s ‘lacklustre’ response to the ceasefire.
The three ‘pro-independent Balochistan’ groups announced the ceasefire in September last year, which ended a cycle of targeted killings in the
province.
Bibarg told Daily Times they had decided to unconditionally halt their operations last September, hoping the government would concede to the Baloch
demands.
He said the three groups had sincerely adhered to their pledge of not launching attacks, but alleged the government continued the military operation,
exploiting Baloch resources and killing innocent people.
“We have decided to end the ceasefire in the wake of fresh attacks in Dera Bugti and Sui areas which have killed more than 50 people, mainly women
and children,” said Bibarg, claiming the situation in the conflict areas was worse than what was being reported in the media, as the media had limited
access to the areas.
Bibarg said the government took the ceasefire as an opportunity to expand the military operations to Gwadar, Turbat, and Mashky.
He said the Baloch wanted to convey to the world that Islamabad would not review its policy towards Balochistan in any case.
“If we do not fight to protect our motherland then what is the point of our existence? We appeal to all Baloch people to join our armed struggle to liberate
Balochistan,” he said. malik siraj akbar
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg7_9
3 Pak armed groups call off ceasefire
5 Jan 2009, 1406 hrs IST, PTI
ISLAMABAD: Three armed nationalist groups in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province have called off a four-month-old unilateral ceasefire in
response to the continuing operations against them by the security forces
Declaring the end of the truce, Balochistan Liberation Army spokesman Bibarg Baloch said the BLA, Balochistan Republican Army and Balochistan
Liberation Front were disappointed by the government's "lacklustre" response to the ceasefire.
Bibarg spoke to journalists on satellite phone from an undisclosed location yesterday.
The three Baloch groups, which have been conducting a violent campaign in the province, had announced the truce in September last year, ending a
cycle of targeted killings and bomb attacks.
Bibarg said the Baloch groups had decided to unconditionally halt their operations in the hope that the government would concede to their demands.
The groups had sincerely adhered to their pledge of not launching attacks but the government continued its military operations, the exploitation of the
natural resources of the province and the killing of innocent people, he alleged.
"We have decided to end the ceasefire in the wake of fresh attacks in Dera Bugti and Sui areas which have killed more than 50 people, mainly women
and children," said Bibarg.
He claimed the situation in the violence-hit areas is worse than what is being reported in the media.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3937292,prtpage-1.cms
Gas leak kills eight miners in Pakistan
Sun, 04 Jan 2009
Islamabad - At least eight coal miners were suffocated by a poison gas leak in Pakistan's south-western Balochistan province on Sunday, a media
report said. The gas leak occurred early in the morning in a coal mine in the Mach area, some 50 kilometres from the provincial capital Quetta,
according to the private Geo News television channel.
A rescue team was sent to the mine to retrieve the bodies, Geo reported.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/248842,gas-leak-kills-eight-miners-in-pakistan.html
One killed, seven injured in latest Quetta blast
Quetta (Balochistan, Pakistan), Jan.3 : One person was killed and seven others injured in a blast at the Mastoong Bazar Chowk here on Saturday.
Saturday's blasts indicate that violence in Balochistan and particularly in its capital shows no signs of abating.
In 2008, Quetta experienced bomb blasts at regular intervals.
On May 9, at least 24 people were injured in an explosion near a tea stall on the Samungli Road. Police then said a locally-made explosive device had
been planted close to the tea stall.
On July 4, a minor girl was killed and 11 others were injured at the Mannan roundabout on Jinnah Road.
The bomb was planted on a motorbike, which exploded in a crowded market.
All the victims were passers-by. Sources said two policemen were also among the injured.
On September 28, at least eleven people sustained injuries in two separate bomb blasts.
A powerful blast took place at an Internet café in Jinnah Complex here on December 4. Though no lives were lost, the blast was heard in a large radius.
Computers and other equipment in the Internet café was damaged.
Ethnic-Baluch tribesmen have been waging a low-level insurgency to press calls for greater provincial autonomy and control over natural resources in
Baluchistan. --- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-68656.html
Three injured in Dera train attack
* Balochistan Constabulary man killed
By Malik Siraj Akbar
QUETTA: Unidentified assailants targeted a train going from Balochistan to Sindh on Sunday as armed men killed a recruit of the Balochistan
Constabulary (BC) in Quetta.
The attack on Jaffar Express – which was headed from Quetta to Sindh – took place in Mangoli, seven kilometres from Dera Murad Jamali district. At
least three people were injured in the assault, and they have been shifted to a hospital in Dera Murad Jamali.
The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Its spokesman, Sarbaz Baloch, told Daily Times that the driver of the train
had been killed, but the claim could not be verified through independent sources.
Following the assault on Jaffar Express, Pakistan Railways stopped the Quetta Express – another train on its way to Quetta – at Jacobabad as a
precautionary measure.
Sunday’s attack was the second on a passenger train in four days. Baloch militants have been known to damage railway lines, but these are the first
incidents in which trains have come under direct attacks.
In a separate incident, armed men killed a personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary in Quetta’s Shallkot area on Sunday evening. The recruit has
been identified as Abdul Hakeem. The assailants managed to escape. Police said they launched an operation to search for the men. No group has
claimed responsibility for the killing of the BC personnel.
The attack appeared to be a targeted killing – the first of its type directed against a government functionary in 2009. Around 73 people fell victim to
targeted killings by Baloch militants in 2008.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg7_4
Karachi-based filmmaker wins award
Staff Report
KARACHI: Karachi based renowned young filmmaker, artist and director Sharjil Baloch’s famous classical documentary film Ki Jana Main Kaun (Who
knows what I am) has won the first prize in the South Asian Interactive Documentary Film Festival held in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu last week.
About a hundred documentary producers, leading directors and journalists from eight South Asia countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka submitted their films in the festival.
Ki Jana Main Kaun, reflects the cultural festivals of Sufism, one of the national identities of the Sindhi culture.
It Sharjil a year to complete his documentary and during that year, he visited dozens of shrines of Sufi saints in Sindh. Baloch’s entire perspective on life
changed when he exposed himself to Sufism. The idea of making such film came to him suddenly when he visited Sadh Belo, a historical Hindu
religious place which is located on an island in River Indus.
“I found a watchman praying and reciting the Quran inside Sadh Belo. Surprised, I asked the watchman how he is allowed to pray inside a Hindu
temple, he told me that in Sufism this is not strange. So I started researching and collecting information on Sufism and I found it to be very interesting
and thus I started working on the documentary.”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg12_7
Two security men killed in landmine explosion
in SW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) --Two paramilitary soldiers were killed and four others injured in a landmine explosion in southwestern Pakistan on
Saturday, private TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The soldiers were patrolling a gas field in the town of Dera Bugti in Balochistan province when a landmine was detonated by their vehicle, said the
report.
As a result, two soldiers were killed and four others injured.
A spokesman for a militant group called Baloch Republican Army, Sarbaz Khan, later claimed responsibility of the attack.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/03/content_10598348.htm
Govt to get additional 1,000MW power from Iran: Ashraf
Saturday, January 03, 2009
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The government is trying to obtain another 1,000MW power from Iran as soon as possible, as the existing power generation capacity of the
country is not sufficient enough to meet the domestic requirements.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed these views on Friday during a chat with journalists after holding a meeting with
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani here in the Ministry of Water and Power. The minister said that electricity was not a
commodity to import, but needs to be produced domestically. About the current ongoing frequent power break down, he said it was due to shortfall in
hydel power generation. The flow of water from Tarbela and Mongla dams had been stopped due to desilting process initiated by the government so as
to improve water availability for irrigation purposes. The current power break down in the country would be totally removed by the end of January after
completing the desilting process. However, during peak times in summer season, the minister said the country would again witness power shortfall
problems.
The power shortfall would be overcome after December 2009.
The government also finalised the import of 1,000MW from Iran and for another 1,000MW negotiations were in progress with Iran. About the cost of
imported power from Iran the minister said that it would be equivalent to the existing electricity prices. He said the government also succeeded in
importing 40MW from Iran for Gwadar Port.
Earlier, the minister said that the federal government was taking all possible steps to provide basic amenities to the people and for development of
Balochistan.
He said this while talking to the chief minister of Balochistan who called on him in his office. Provincial Minister for Finance and Revenue Asim Kurd
Gillo and the Adviser to the Ministry of Water and Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan were also present. The minister said that different water and power sector
projects with special allocations had been planned in various parts of Balochistan province to meet the electricity and water requirements.
He said that a rental power project of 200MW was being set up in Quetta while the feasibility study of four dams Hingol, Winder, Sukleji and Naolong
had been completed by Wapda. Construction work on Hingol dam would be started soon.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg5_2
Candidates fail to submit CSS forms due to
miscommunication
By Malik Siraj Akbar
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: Several candidates from Balochistan failed to submit their application forms for Central Superior Services (CSS) examination due to lack of
coordination between the Federal Public Service Commission’s (FPSC) provincial office and the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).
Talking to Daily Times, students said the FPSC had declared January 1 as the last date for submitting forms for the exams, without keeping in view that
the day was a bank holiday.
"The FPSC had requested the NBP branches in other provinces to accept fees of the CSS candidates. Though banks accepted fees in Punjab, NWFP
and Sindh, NBP refused to follow suit in Balochistan. Thus, a number of candidates could not submit their forms," Nasratullah, a student, said.
He said many candidates had to wait for the fist day of the month to receive salaries for depositing the fees.
"Now we feel cheated due to lack of coordination between the bank and the commission. I appeal to the federal government to look into the matter so
that the students do not have to waste a year for taking the exams," the student said.
Officials of NBP and FPSC Balochistan were not available for comment.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg7_23
Water, power projects for Balochistan planned
Saturday, January 03, 2009
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The PPP-led government is taking all possible steps to provide basic amenities to the people and for the development of Balochistan.
Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf stated this while talking to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan
Raisani who called on him at his office here on Friday. Provincial Minister for Finance and Revenue, Asim Kurd Gillo and Adviser Ministry of Water and
Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan were also present.
The minister said that different water and power projects with special allocations have been planned in various parts of Balochistan to meet its
electricity and water requirements.
Ashraf said a rental power project of 200 megawatts is being set up at Quetta while feasibility study of four dams namely Hingol, Winder, Sukleji and
Naolong has been completed by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Construction work on the Hingol dam will start soon and after completion of the proposed four dams, plenty of water would be available for irrigation of
land for cultivation, he said.
Both the minister and chief minister discussed the current power situation, future water and power projects and progress on the import of power from
Iran. The minister asked the chief minister to use his good offices for recovery of long outstanding dues both from the public and private sectors.
The chief minister also discussed political, social and other matters of mutual interest for the development of Balochistan. He expressed hope that due
to the allocation of special funds by the federal government, the people of Balochistan would get all the basic facilities.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=155183
Sense of deprivation of Balochis will be removed:
President
ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming his firm support for the uplift people of Balochistan, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday underlined that all measures would be
taken to complete development projects in the province while sense of deprivation among people would be removed.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed these views during his meeting with Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani in the
Presidency on Friday.
Raisani briefed the President about socio-political and economic situation of the Province.
He apprised him of ongoing development activities including ongoing rehabilitation activities in earthquake affected areas of Balochistan.
Terming the opening of Gwadar Port as an enriching sign, President said that it is a major milestone for the development and prosperity of the county
and people of Balochistan, Sources told.
Sources told that President said we are not oblivious to the problems of people of Balochistan regarding shortage of petrol and power outages and
everything possible is being done to overcome the shortage to make the people of province easy. He said we are also making all out efforts for the
rehabilitation of quake affectees
Talking about the law and order situation the President emphasized that no one would be allowed to take the law in their own hands and the writ of the
government would be established at all cost.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138465
Baloch to get good news in March: Babar Awan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan has said there would be good news for the people of Balochistan in the month of
March while a roadmap for the solution of Balochistan’s problems was being prepared.
Expressing these views while addressing an award distribution ceremony organized by Peoples Youth Organization (PYO), he said that Opposition
parties should give suggestion for the elimination of 17th amendment and PPPP would solve all the constitutional and legal problems.
He said that those who considered Pakistan a failure state were living in fool’s paradise. He said that government handled the Balochistan issue
carefully and affectively while they would solve the country’s crisis with the support of people. He said that those who practice politics on non-issues
should “wait” till next elections.
He said that provincial governments should perform their duties within their limits. He said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan a political party
has convinced the opposition parties to take part in elections.
In response to a question he said that only six judges among 62 remained to be reinstated, while 56 judges have been restored, and said that PPPP
would perform in a better way in the elections of Senate likely to be held in March.
In the end of ceremony Nayyar Bukhari and Chaudhary Manzoor distributed awards to the kin of martyred security guards of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138450
Quetta express fired upon
SIBI: Some unknown miscreant persons opened indiscriminate fire on Quetta Express, injuring 13, including the driver of the train. Four are reported to
be in critical condition.
The inbound train from Peshawar was fired at by members of BRA (Baloch Republican Army), who have claimed the responsibility for the heinous act,
near Bakhtiarabad, wounding 13 including train driver Muhammad Rafiq, and passengers, Dawaa Khan, Waqas Ahmad, Adnan, Aitzaz Ahmad, Saba
Rafiq, Saira bibi, Nisar Ahmad, Syed Tauqeer Shah, Sobia Younis, Khalid Khan, Muhammad Latif and others.
The wounded were immediately transferred to civil hospital in ambulances of Sangat and Edhi foundation, while the district Nazim Sibi, Mir Ali Mardan
Doomki has declared emergency in Divisional hospital of Sibi, ordering full alert of all hospital staff.
On hearing the news of the incident, DCO Sibi, Mir Abdul Rauf Baloch, SSP Sibi, Malik Muhammad Khan, EDO health Mir Nabi Baksh Bugti, and other
district officers reached the scene of gory incident. A large number of citizens poured in hospital to offer blood transfusion to the wounded.
Meanwhile the attacked train’s engine caught fire near Barrack railway station while being hauled.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138461
Talal calls for Musharraf trial
Sunday, December 28, 2008
JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has demanded that provinces be made autonomous immediately and right of Balochs on their province’
s resources should be acknowledged besides solving local problems according to the wishes of Balochs.
He was addressing a joint press conference at Mansoorah on Saturday along with Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) president Nawab Talal Akbar Bugti who
had earlier called on him with a party delegation.
Talal Bugti also presented his 16-point demands to Qazi Hussain Ahmad. Qazi assured his support including giving Balochistan’s resources under the
local control and high level impartial investigations into the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Qazi also demanded that unconstitutional action of Nov 3,
2007 should be revoked and Gen Musahrraf should be tried for violating the constitution. He lamented that every civilian government allowed indemnity
to military dictators’ illegal actions which paved the way for new martial laws.
Qazi welcomed Nawab Talal Bugti’s visit to Punjab at the time of impending Indian aggression, terming it of great importance. He assured full support
to the just demands of Talal Bugti for the rights of Balochs.
Qazi expressed sorrow that Pakistani diplomacy was a total failure against that of India since Delhi wanted Washington-like surgical strikes against
Pakistan to put an end to Islamabad’s sovereignty. He warned that people of Pakistan would never allow the rulers to permit surgical strikes to India like
they had allowed Washington to do that.
He demanded Islamabad rulers get out of the US-led alliance and end logistic support to Nato to give a strong message to Delhi. Qazi welcomed the
reports that Pakistani troops were being recalled from western borders to deploy them on the east, saying it proved that Pakistan had been fighting a
US war in tribal areas. Qazi emphasized that normalization of Pak-India relations like friendly neighbors was impossible as long as Kashmir issue was
not solved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people. He accused India of setting up 26 terrorism centers near Pakistani western borders from where
terrorism and subversion was being carried out inside Pakistan.
Talal Bugti demanded that former president Gen Musharraf and other nominated accused in Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case should be brought to trial,
complete provincial autonomy should be given to Balochistan and all terrorism centers in the province should be dismantled.
Holding Gen Musharraf a national criminal who must be penalized for establishing justice, Bugti said Gen Musharraf was not only the murderer of
Nawab Akbar Bugti but also of thousands of innocent girls in Jamia Hafsa, tens of thousands of tribal people including women and children and that of
PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
Dispelling the impression created about his family as unpatriotic, Talal Bugti said it was his father Nawab Akbar Bugto who called a grand jirga at the
time of creation of Pakistan to persuade other tribal chiefs to annex Balochistan to Pakistan. He said in case of any Indian attack Balochs would be
ahead of the armed forces to counter Indian forces.
He accused Chaudhris of Gujrat of being highly ungrateful to his father Nawab Akbar Bugti who, he claimed, had saved their father from getting killed in
ZA Bhutto era. Chaudhris could have easily saved Nawab Akbar Bugti by meeting Gen Musharraf along with 50 to 100 parliamentarians but they did not
repay that kindness and remained busy in making money.
He said he had lodged an FIR of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder against 150 accused in the Quetta City Police Station including the then president and
COAS Gen Musharraf, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan, provincial home
minister, Brig Mumtaz of military intelligence and others. He said president Asif Zardari had assured him of taking action against all accused including
Gen Musharraf.
He said his party had apprised the government about the terrorism dens in Balochistan but no action was taken against them as yet.
Talal Bugti said the present Governor and Chief Minister of Balochsitan were totally authority-less and had no powers to take any measure regarding
Akbar Bugti murder case.
JI deputy secretary general Dr Farid Paracha and Shah Zain Bugti were also present among other leaders.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=154202
16 injured in BRA attack on Quetta Express
Staff Report
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: At least 16 people, including the driver of a Quetta-bound train, were injured when Baloch militants attacked the train on Friday.
The Quetta Express, coming from Peshawar, was attacked in Nothal area of Sibi district. The attack injured 15 passengers and the train driver, who was
reported to be in a critical condition. All the victims were shifted to a local hospital in Sibi.
Pakistan Railway authorities diverted all trains to and from Quetta at the Sibi junction for safety reasons.
The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the attack had killed three policemen deputed on the train to ensure
security. BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch told Daily Times that the attack was a part of the fresh phase of BRA attacks on government installations after
it decided to end the unilateral ceasefire announced in September 2008.
“The attack on the train killed three policemen and injured nine people,” Baloch claimed.
Meanwhile, a clash between security forces and the Baloch militant in Dera Bugti district continued for a second consecutive day on Friday.
The BRA spokesman claimed that the militants killed 12 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel when they blew up three of their vehicles in Gazi Tir. The BRA
spokesman added that rockets were fired and a gun-battle continued between the militants and the FC personnel.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg1_14
2008 most violent year in a decade for Balochistan
* Number of targeted killings rose to 400
* Terrorist activities registered an increase with 120 bomb blasts, 141 landmine explosions
By Malik Siraj Akbar
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: The outgoing year was the most violent in a decade for the Balochistan province in which 433 people lost their lives, including 73 victims of
‘target killing’ and 43 were killed in the name of honour.
Statistics indicate a constant rise in murder cases in the country’s largest province since 1997, when 241 people were killed.
Official data confirms 303 people were killed in 2005, the number rose to 341 in 2006 and was recorded at 390 in 2007.
It was the first year that the killings crossed the 400 mark.
The year saw a considerable rise is target killings, with the targets including police personnel and even journalists. The Balochistan Liberation Army
(BLA), a banned militant outfit that demands an independent Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the majority of the killings, justifying them as a
response to the ‘state’s injustices against the Baloch people’.
The most alarming targeted killing was the murder of Professor Safdar Kayani, acting vice chancellor of University of Balochistan, on April 22.
The BLA victims also included two personnel of the Pakistan Army and two recruits of the Military Intelligence (MI). The four officials were killed in April.
The BLA also killed six boys, most of them from the Hazara community, who were playing cricket in front of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office
on May 30. July saw the targeted killing of 54 people, including a Balochistan High Court lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa. Forty-one 1 people were killed in
August, most victims of targeted killing. The number of people targeted in September was 73.
A majority of the targeted killings’ victims were officials of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, police, intelligence agencies and members of the Punjabi,
Hazara and Baloch ethnic communities, who the BLA claimed, ‘spied’ for the government against Baloch interests.
Terrorism: The year also witnessed an increase in terrorist activities, as 120 bomb blasts, 208 rocket attacks, 141 landmine explosions and 32 hand
grenade attacks were recorded in the province, which killed more than 150 people and injured an estimated 200. Sources said 24 explosions occurred
in January, 71 were recorded in February and 52 explosions occurred in March.
There were 32 explosions in April, including 19 rocket attacks, six hand grenade assaults and six bomb blasts, which killed four people, including three
government officials, and injured nine civilians.
Twenty-one people were killed in terrorist activities in the months of May and June, while around 25 explosions in July killed 16 people, including eight
government officials.
August followed with 16 bomb blasts, 80 rockets attacks, nine hand grenades attacks and two landmine explosions that killed 16 people, including four
government functionaries and injured 60 people.
There were seven rocket attacks, seven bomb blasts and three hand grenade attacks in September that killed seven people, while 12 explosions in
October killed 12 people. Thirty-one explosions in November killed four people, while when 45 explosions, including 16 bomb blasts, 26 rocket attacks
and three landmine explosions in December killed four people.
Around 43 people, including 32 women, were killed in various parts of Balochistan in the name of honour during the first nine months of 2008, said a
report by Aurat Foundation.
In most cases of honour killing, the culprits were reported to be the victim’s family.
Security experts believe the situation in Balochistan could have been worse had the three militant groups - the BLA, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA)
and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) - not declared a ceasefire in September.
However, the BRA announced the end of the ceasefire on January1, saying the government had killed several innocent Baloch tribesmen in fresh
attacks on Dera Bugti. The two other groups are likely to follow suit, analysts say, fearing the Balochistan government was likely to face further problems
in 2009.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\01\03\story_3-1-2009_pg1_15
Quetta to suppress Balochs Sanaullah Baloch
QUETTA, Jan 5 : The Pakistan Government is providing covert support to the Taliban to capture land in eastern and western Quetta in order to
undermine the Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan.
Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator, Sanaullah Baloch, said the government is fully aware of these
encroachments, but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of the government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the
religious elements against the Baloch nationalists.
The Daily Times quoted Baloch as saying that the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their supporters were
consolidating their grip.
Several parts of the provincial capital have become 'no-go areas' where the Taliban and their supporters have consolidated their position, he added.
"We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government," Baloch said.
"Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government, but the
state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in Balochistan,"
he said.
Baloch said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces.
The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and terrorism in the
country's largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the 'alarmingly dangerous moves' of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. --- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-69216.html
Taliban consolidating grip on
Quetta: Sanaullah Baloch
Monday, January 05, 2009
* BNP leader says ‘establishment’ wants to pitch Taliban against Baloch nationalists
* Says Taliban supporters have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in Quetta * PPP has taken no steps to increase prospects of reconciliation
* Demands more Baloch control and larger share in mining projects
By Malik Siraj Akbar
QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) Information Secretary and former senator Sanaullah Baloch has disclosed that the supporters of Taliban
have captured land worth Rs 2 billion in the eastern and western parts of Quetta with the covert support of the ‘establishment’ in order to undermine the
Baloch nationalist movement and promote Talibanisation in Balochistan.
In an interview with Daily Times on Sunday, the former senator said the government had failed to establish its writ in Quetta, where the Taliban and their
supporters were consolidating their grip. Several parts of the provincial capital have become ‘no-go areas’ where the Taliban and their supporters have
consolidated their position, he said.
Baloch said the government was fully aware of these encroachments but it was deliberately silent because the Taliban enjoy the support of the
government and its intelligence agencies who wish to pit the religious elements against the Baloch nationalists.
“We are surprised why the government does not undertake a military operation against these elements who have openly challenged the writ of the
government. Military operations were carried out in Dera Bugti and Sui areas by the government on the pretext of establishing the writ of the government,
but the state machinery does not move against the Taliban and their supporters who have illegally and forcefully captured large areas of land in
Balochistan,” he said.
Sanaullah said the government was trying to patronise the Taliban elements in Quetta and its outskirts in order to undermine the power of the actual
democratic forces. The Afghan refugees, besides being a burden on the economy of Balochistan, have become the biggest cause of lawlessness and
terrorism in the country’s largest province, Baloch said.
Billions of rupees were being spent on eliminating the Taliban and their supporters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the NWFP, he
said, asking why the government was ignoring the ‘alarmingly dangerous moves’ of the Taliban and giving them protection in Quetta.
The BNP leader criticised the government for initiating fresh operations in Dera Bugti and Naseerabad areas, adding that such unprovoked operations
were likely to escalate tensions in Balochistan. “The government is making Balochistan a battlefield again,” he said.
The operations have made the militant groups end their ceasefire which would further deteriorate the security situation, he said. The Baloch leadership
had welcomed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government despite the imprisonment of its leadership with the hope that the PPP would learn
lessons from the past and pay serious attention to the Baloch issue, he said, adding: “We have deep respect for the PPP and its leaders but we are not
going to compromise on the Baloch interests at the cost of our friendship with the PPP leaders. The democratic as well as armed groups in the
province are losing faith in the present government.”
Reconciliation: Asked if the BNP and other Baloch leaders welcomed the recent statement of PPP leader Babar Awan that “the Baloch would hear good
news in March”, Sanullah accused the PPP leadership of using ‘delaying tactics’. In 1977, the PPP had delayed the resolution of the Baloch issue by
hoping that the crisis in Balochistan would gradually fade away, Baloch said, adding that the PPP was showing a lack of interest in Balochistan again by
not understanding the urgency needed to permanently resolve the issue.
“In politics you need to reconcile at the right time. Timeliness is a crucial factor in politics which the PPP seems to be missing in Balochistan’s context,”
he commented. Recalling a promise made by late Benazir Bhutto, the former PPP chairperson, who had agreed in the Charter of Democracy to
establish federal tribunals to settle the cases of the provinces against the federal government, besides ensuring complete provincial autonomy to the
provinces, Baloch said the PPP did not take any initiatives that would brighten the prospects of reconciliation.
Citing the failure of the reconciliatory committees formed by the previous government, Sanaullah Baloch said the Baloch had always agreed to sit on the
negotiation table and sort out the problems, but the government had been calling them terrorists and traitors. “We have asked the PPP government to
punish the elements who carried out massive human rights violation and remove the unnecessary FC checkposts in Balochistan so that we see some
progress made by the government as a confidence-building measure. But our demands have not been met yet.”
Mines and minerals: The BNP leader demanded the local Baloch youth be given technical know-how in mining and geological sectors so that they
could handle the Saindak and Reko Dik projects.
“We want agreements on the Saindak Gold and Copper project and Reko Dik to be reviewed. The chief minister issued such statements recently but no
headway has been made yet in this regard. The Baloch share in the revenue generated at Saindak project is merely 2 percent while the federal
government takes 48 percent, and 50 percent goes to China. This is an unjust formula that needs to be revised. We consider this utter exploitation,” he
said, recommending that bidding should be conducted in the international stock exchanges for the interested mining companies that want to run these
projects. “The government of Balochistan should be given the right to choose the company that can best run these projects while keeping in view the
fact that the benefits of the projects should go to the people of Balochistan,” said the former senator.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg1_11
Three Baloch groups formally end ceasefire
QUETTA: Three armed groups in Balochistan on Sunday announced the formal end of a four-month-old unilateral ceasefire in response to the security
forces’ continued military operation in the province.
Declaring the end of the ceasefire, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) spokesman Bibarg Baloch said the BLA, the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA)
and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) were disappointed by the government’s ‘lacklustre’ response to the ceasefire.
The three ‘pro-independent Balochistan’ groups announced the ceasefire in September last year, which ended a cycle of targeted killings in the
province.
Bibarg told Daily Times they had decided to unconditionally halt their operations last September, hoping the government would concede to the Baloch
demands.
He said the three groups had sincerely adhered to their pledge of not launching attacks, but alleged the government continued the military operation,
exploiting Baloch resources and killing innocent people.
“We have decided to end the ceasefire in the wake of fresh attacks in Dera Bugti and Sui areas which have killed more than 50 people, mainly women
and children,” said Bibarg, claiming the situation in the conflict areas was worse than what was being reported in the media, as the media had limited
access to the areas.
Bibarg said the government took the ceasefire as an opportunity to expand the military operations to Gwadar, Turbat, and Mashky.
He said the Baloch wanted to convey to the world that Islamabad would not review its policy towards Balochistan in any case.
“If we do not fight to protect our motherland then what is the point of our existence? We appeal to all Baloch people to join our armed struggle to liberate
Balochistan,” he said. malik siraj akbar
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg7_9
3 Pak armed groups call off ceasefire
5 Jan 2009, 1406 hrs IST, PTI
ISLAMABAD: Three armed nationalist groups in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province have called off a four-month-old unilateral ceasefire in
response to the continuing operations against them by the security forces
Declaring the end of the truce, Balochistan Liberation Army spokesman Bibarg Baloch said the BLA, Balochistan Republican Army and Balochistan
Liberation Front were disappointed by the government's "lacklustre" response to the ceasefire.
Bibarg spoke to journalists on satellite phone from an undisclosed location yesterday.
The three Baloch groups, which have been conducting a violent campaign in the province, had announced the truce in September last year, ending a
cycle of targeted killings and bomb attacks.
Bibarg said the Baloch groups had decided to unconditionally halt their operations in the hope that the government would concede to their demands.
The groups had sincerely adhered to their pledge of not launching attacks but the government continued its military operations, the exploitation of the
natural resources of the province and the killing of innocent people, he alleged.
"We have decided to end the ceasefire in the wake of fresh attacks in Dera Bugti and Sui areas which have killed more than 50 people, mainly women
and children," said Bibarg.
He claimed the situation in the violence-hit areas is worse than what is being reported in the media.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3937292,prtpage-1.cms
Gas leak kills eight miners in Pakistan
Sun, 04 Jan 2009
Islamabad - At least eight coal miners were suffocated by a poison gas leak in Pakistan's south-western Balochistan province on Sunday, a media
report said. The gas leak occurred early in the morning in a coal mine in the Mach area, some 50 kilometres from the provincial capital Quetta,
according to the private Geo News television channel.
A rescue team was sent to the mine to retrieve the bodies, Geo reported.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/248842,gas-leak-kills-eight-miners-in-pakistan.html
One killed, seven injured in latest Quetta blast
Quetta (Balochistan, Pakistan), Jan.3 : One person was killed and seven others injured in a blast at the Mastoong Bazar Chowk here on Saturday.
Saturday's blasts indicate that violence in Balochistan and particularly in its capital shows no signs of abating.
In 2008, Quetta experienced bomb blasts at regular intervals.
On May 9, at least 24 people were injured in an explosion near a tea stall on the Samungli Road. Police then said a locally-made explosive device had
been planted close to the tea stall.
On July 4, a minor girl was killed and 11 others were injured at the Mannan roundabout on Jinnah Road.
The bomb was planted on a motorbike, which exploded in a crowded market.
All the victims were passers-by. Sources said two policemen were also among the injured.
On September 28, at least eleven people sustained injuries in two separate bomb blasts.
A powerful blast took place at an Internet café in Jinnah Complex here on December 4. Though no lives were lost, the blast was heard in a large radius.
Computers and other equipment in the Internet café was damaged.
Ethnic-Baluch tribesmen have been waging a low-level insurgency to press calls for greater provincial autonomy and control over natural resources in
Baluchistan. --- ANI
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-68656.html
Three injured in Dera train attack
* Balochistan Constabulary man killed
By Malik Siraj Akbar
QUETTA: Unidentified assailants targeted a train going from Balochistan to Sindh on Sunday as armed men killed a recruit of the Balochistan
Constabulary (BC) in Quetta.
The attack on Jaffar Express – which was headed from Quetta to Sindh – took place in Mangoli, seven kilometres from Dera Murad Jamali district. At
least three people were injured in the assault, and they have been shifted to a hospital in Dera Murad Jamali.
The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Its spokesman, Sarbaz Baloch, told Daily Times that the driver of the train
had been killed, but the claim could not be verified through independent sources.
Following the assault on Jaffar Express, Pakistan Railways stopped the Quetta Express – another train on its way to Quetta – at Jacobabad as a
precautionary measure.
Sunday’s attack was the second on a passenger train in four days. Baloch militants have been known to damage railway lines, but these are the first
incidents in which trains have come under direct attacks.
In a separate incident, armed men killed a personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary in Quetta’s Shallkot area on Sunday evening. The recruit has
been identified as Abdul Hakeem. The assailants managed to escape. Police said they launched an operation to search for the men. No group has
claimed responsibility for the killing of the BC personnel.
The attack appeared to be a targeted killing – the first of its type directed against a government functionary in 2009. Around 73 people fell victim to
targeted killings by Baloch militants in 2008.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg7_4
Karachi-based filmmaker wins award
Staff Report
KARACHI: Karachi based renowned young filmmaker, artist and director Sharjil Baloch’s famous classical documentary film Ki Jana Main Kaun (Who
knows what I am) has won the first prize in the South Asian Interactive Documentary Film Festival held in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu last week.
About a hundred documentary producers, leading directors and journalists from eight South Asia countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka submitted their films in the festival.
Ki Jana Main Kaun, reflects the cultural festivals of Sufism, one of the national identities of the Sindhi culture.
It Sharjil a year to complete his documentary and during that year, he visited dozens of shrines of Sufi saints in Sindh. Baloch’s entire perspective on life
changed when he exposed himself to Sufism. The idea of making such film came to him suddenly when he visited Sadh Belo, a historical Hindu
religious place which is located on an island in River Indus.
“I found a watchman praying and reciting the Quran inside Sadh Belo. Surprised, I asked the watchman how he is allowed to pray inside a Hindu
temple, he told me that in Sufism this is not strange. So I started researching and collecting information on Sufism and I found it to be very interesting
and thus I started working on the documentary.”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C05%5Cstory_5-1-2009_pg12_7
Two security men killed in landmine explosion
in SW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) --Two paramilitary soldiers were killed and four others injured in a landmine explosion in southwestern Pakistan on
Saturday, private TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The soldiers were patrolling a gas field in the town of Dera Bugti in Balochistan province when a landmine was detonated by their vehicle, said the
report.
As a result, two soldiers were killed and four others injured.
A spokesman for a militant group called Baloch Republican Army, Sarbaz Khan, later claimed responsibility of the attack.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/03/content_10598348.htm
Govt to get additional 1,000MW power from Iran: Ashraf
Saturday, January 03, 2009
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The government is trying to obtain another 1,000MW power from Iran as soon as possible, as the existing power generation capacity of the
country is not sufficient enough to meet the domestic requirements.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed these views on Friday during a chat with journalists after holding a meeting with
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani here in the Ministry of Water and Power. The minister said that electricity was not a
commodity to import, but needs to be produced domestically. About the current ongoing frequent power break down, he said it was due to shortfall in
hydel power generation. The flow of water from Tarbela and Mongla dams had been stopped due to desilting process initiated by the government so as
to improve water availability for irrigation purposes. The current power break down in the country would be totally removed by the end of January after
completing the desilting process. However, during peak times in summer season, the minister said the country would again witness power shortfall
problems.
The power shortfall would be overcome after December 2009.
The government also finalised the import of 1,000MW from Iran and for another 1,000MW negotiations were in progress with Iran. About the cost of
imported power from Iran the minister said that it would be equivalent to the existing electricity prices. He said the government also succeeded in
importing 40MW from Iran for Gwadar Port.
Earlier, the minister said that the federal government was taking all possible steps to provide basic amenities to the people and for development of
Balochistan.
He said this while talking to the chief minister of Balochistan who called on him in his office. Provincial Minister for Finance and Revenue Asim Kurd
Gillo and the Adviser to the Ministry of Water and Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan were also present. The minister said that different water and power sector
projects with special allocations had been planned in various parts of Balochistan province to meet the electricity and water requirements.
He said that a rental power project of 200MW was being set up in Quetta while the feasibility study of four dams Hingol, Winder, Sukleji and Naolong
had been completed by Wapda. Construction work on Hingol dam would be started soon.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg5_2
Candidates fail to submit CSS forms due to
miscommunication
By Malik Siraj Akbar
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: Several candidates from Balochistan failed to submit their application forms for Central Superior Services (CSS) examination due to lack of
coordination between the Federal Public Service Commission’s (FPSC) provincial office and the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).
Talking to Daily Times, students said the FPSC had declared January 1 as the last date for submitting forms for the exams, without keeping in view that
the day was a bank holiday.
"The FPSC had requested the NBP branches in other provinces to accept fees of the CSS candidates. Though banks accepted fees in Punjab, NWFP
and Sindh, NBP refused to follow suit in Balochistan. Thus, a number of candidates could not submit their forms," Nasratullah, a student, said.
He said many candidates had to wait for the fist day of the month to receive salaries for depositing the fees.
"Now we feel cheated due to lack of coordination between the bank and the commission. I appeal to the federal government to look into the matter so
that the students do not have to waste a year for taking the exams," the student said.
Officials of NBP and FPSC Balochistan were not available for comment.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg7_23
Water, power projects for Balochistan planned
Saturday, January 03, 2009
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The PPP-led government is taking all possible steps to provide basic amenities to the people and for the development of Balochistan.
Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf stated this while talking to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan
Raisani who called on him at his office here on Friday. Provincial Minister for Finance and Revenue, Asim Kurd Gillo and Adviser Ministry of Water and
Power, Riaz Ahmed Khan were also present.
The minister said that different water and power projects with special allocations have been planned in various parts of Balochistan to meet its
electricity and water requirements.
Ashraf said a rental power project of 200 megawatts is being set up at Quetta while feasibility study of four dams namely Hingol, Winder, Sukleji and
Naolong has been completed by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Construction work on the Hingol dam will start soon and after completion of the proposed four dams, plenty of water would be available for irrigation of
land for cultivation, he said.
Both the minister and chief minister discussed the current power situation, future water and power projects and progress on the import of power from
Iran. The minister asked the chief minister to use his good offices for recovery of long outstanding dues both from the public and private sectors.
The chief minister also discussed political, social and other matters of mutual interest for the development of Balochistan. He expressed hope that due
to the allocation of special funds by the federal government, the people of Balochistan would get all the basic facilities.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=155183
Sense of deprivation of Balochis will be removed:
President
ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming his firm support for the uplift people of Balochistan, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday underlined that all measures would be
taken to complete development projects in the province while sense of deprivation among people would be removed.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed these views during his meeting with Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani in the
Presidency on Friday.
Raisani briefed the President about socio-political and economic situation of the Province.
He apprised him of ongoing development activities including ongoing rehabilitation activities in earthquake affected areas of Balochistan.
Terming the opening of Gwadar Port as an enriching sign, President said that it is a major milestone for the development and prosperity of the county
and people of Balochistan, Sources told.
Sources told that President said we are not oblivious to the problems of people of Balochistan regarding shortage of petrol and power outages and
everything possible is being done to overcome the shortage to make the people of province easy. He said we are also making all out efforts for the
rehabilitation of quake affectees
Talking about the law and order situation the President emphasized that no one would be allowed to take the law in their own hands and the writ of the
government would be established at all cost.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138465
Baloch to get good news in March: Babar Awan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan has said there would be good news for the people of Balochistan in the month of
March while a roadmap for the solution of Balochistan’s problems was being prepared.
Expressing these views while addressing an award distribution ceremony organized by Peoples Youth Organization (PYO), he said that Opposition
parties should give suggestion for the elimination of 17th amendment and PPPP would solve all the constitutional and legal problems.
He said that those who considered Pakistan a failure state were living in fool’s paradise. He said that government handled the Balochistan issue
carefully and affectively while they would solve the country’s crisis with the support of people. He said that those who practice politics on non-issues
should “wait” till next elections.
He said that provincial governments should perform their duties within their limits. He said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan a political party
has convinced the opposition parties to take part in elections.
In response to a question he said that only six judges among 62 remained to be reinstated, while 56 judges have been restored, and said that PPPP
would perform in a better way in the elections of Senate likely to be held in March.
In the end of ceremony Nayyar Bukhari and Chaudhary Manzoor distributed awards to the kin of martyred security guards of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138450
Quetta express fired upon
SIBI: Some unknown miscreant persons opened indiscriminate fire on Quetta Express, injuring 13, including the driver of the train. Four are reported to
be in critical condition.
The inbound train from Peshawar was fired at by members of BRA (Baloch Republican Army), who have claimed the responsibility for the heinous act,
near Bakhtiarabad, wounding 13 including train driver Muhammad Rafiq, and passengers, Dawaa Khan, Waqas Ahmad, Adnan, Aitzaz Ahmad, Saba
Rafiq, Saira bibi, Nisar Ahmad, Syed Tauqeer Shah, Sobia Younis, Khalid Khan, Muhammad Latif and others.
The wounded were immediately transferred to civil hospital in ambulances of Sangat and Edhi foundation, while the district Nazim Sibi, Mir Ali Mardan
Doomki has declared emergency in Divisional hospital of Sibi, ordering full alert of all hospital staff.
On hearing the news of the incident, DCO Sibi, Mir Abdul Rauf Baloch, SSP Sibi, Malik Muhammad Khan, EDO health Mir Nabi Baksh Bugti, and other
district officers reached the scene of gory incident. A large number of citizens poured in hospital to offer blood transfusion to the wounded.
Meanwhile the attacked train’s engine caught fire near Barrack railway station while being hauled.
http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=138461
Talal calls for Musharraf trial
Sunday, December 28, 2008
JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has demanded that provinces be made autonomous immediately and right of Balochs on their province’
s resources should be acknowledged besides solving local problems according to the wishes of Balochs.
He was addressing a joint press conference at Mansoorah on Saturday along with Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) president Nawab Talal Akbar Bugti who
had earlier called on him with a party delegation.
Talal Bugti also presented his 16-point demands to Qazi Hussain Ahmad. Qazi assured his support including giving Balochistan’s resources under the
local control and high level impartial investigations into the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Qazi also demanded that unconstitutional action of Nov 3,
2007 should be revoked and Gen Musahrraf should be tried for violating the constitution. He lamented that every civilian government allowed indemnity
to military dictators’ illegal actions which paved the way for new martial laws.
Qazi welcomed Nawab Talal Bugti’s visit to Punjab at the time of impending Indian aggression, terming it of great importance. He assured full support
to the just demands of Talal Bugti for the rights of Balochs.
Qazi expressed sorrow that Pakistani diplomacy was a total failure against that of India since Delhi wanted Washington-like surgical strikes against
Pakistan to put an end to Islamabad’s sovereignty. He warned that people of Pakistan would never allow the rulers to permit surgical strikes to India like
they had allowed Washington to do that.
He demanded Islamabad rulers get out of the US-led alliance and end logistic support to Nato to give a strong message to Delhi. Qazi welcomed the
reports that Pakistani troops were being recalled from western borders to deploy them on the east, saying it proved that Pakistan had been fighting a
US war in tribal areas. Qazi emphasized that normalization of Pak-India relations like friendly neighbors was impossible as long as Kashmir issue was
not solved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people. He accused India of setting up 26 terrorism centers near Pakistani western borders from where
terrorism and subversion was being carried out inside Pakistan.
Talal Bugti demanded that former president Gen Musharraf and other nominated accused in Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case should be brought to trial,
complete provincial autonomy should be given to Balochistan and all terrorism centers in the province should be dismantled.
Holding Gen Musharraf a national criminal who must be penalized for establishing justice, Bugti said Gen Musharraf was not only the murderer of
Nawab Akbar Bugti but also of thousands of innocent girls in Jamia Hafsa, tens of thousands of tribal people including women and children and that of
PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
Dispelling the impression created about his family as unpatriotic, Talal Bugti said it was his father Nawab Akbar Bugto who called a grand jirga at the
time of creation of Pakistan to persuade other tribal chiefs to annex Balochistan to Pakistan. He said in case of any Indian attack Balochs would be
ahead of the armed forces to counter Indian forces.
He accused Chaudhris of Gujrat of being highly ungrateful to his father Nawab Akbar Bugti who, he claimed, had saved their father from getting killed in
ZA Bhutto era. Chaudhris could have easily saved Nawab Akbar Bugti by meeting Gen Musharraf along with 50 to 100 parliamentarians but they did not
repay that kindness and remained busy in making money.
He said he had lodged an FIR of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder against 150 accused in the Quetta City Police Station including the then president and
COAS Gen Musharraf, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan, provincial home
minister, Brig Mumtaz of military intelligence and others. He said president Asif Zardari had assured him of taking action against all accused including
Gen Musharraf.
He said his party had apprised the government about the terrorism dens in Balochistan but no action was taken against them as yet.
Talal Bugti said the present Governor and Chief Minister of Balochsitan were totally authority-less and had no powers to take any measure regarding
Akbar Bugti murder case.
JI deputy secretary general Dr Farid Paracha and Shah Zain Bugti were also present among other leaders.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=154202
16 injured in BRA attack on Quetta Express
Staff Report
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: At least 16 people, including the driver of a Quetta-bound train, were injured when Baloch militants attacked the train on Friday.
The Quetta Express, coming from Peshawar, was attacked in Nothal area of Sibi district. The attack injured 15 passengers and the train driver, who was
reported to be in a critical condition. All the victims were shifted to a local hospital in Sibi.
Pakistan Railway authorities diverted all trains to and from Quetta at the Sibi junction for safety reasons.
The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the attack had killed three policemen deputed on the train to ensure
security. BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch told Daily Times that the attack was a part of the fresh phase of BRA attacks on government installations after
it decided to end the unilateral ceasefire announced in September 2008.
“The attack on the train killed three policemen and injured nine people,” Baloch claimed.
Meanwhile, a clash between security forces and the Baloch militant in Dera Bugti district continued for a second consecutive day on Friday.
The BRA spokesman claimed that the militants killed 12 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel when they blew up three of their vehicles in Gazi Tir. The BRA
spokesman added that rockets were fired and a gun-battle continued between the militants and the FC personnel.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C03%5Cstory_3-1-2009_pg1_14
2008 most violent year in a decade for Balochistan
* Number of targeted killings rose to 400
* Terrorist activities registered an increase with 120 bomb blasts, 141 landmine explosions
By Malik Siraj Akbar
Saturday, January 03, 2009
QUETTA: The outgoing year was the most violent in a decade for the Balochistan province in which 433 people lost their lives, including 73 victims of
‘target killing’ and 43 were killed in the name of honour.
Statistics indicate a constant rise in murder cases in the country’s largest province since 1997, when 241 people were killed.
Official data confirms 303 people were killed in 2005, the number rose to 341 in 2006 and was recorded at 390 in 2007.
It was the first year that the killings crossed the 400 mark.
The year saw a considerable rise is target killings, with the targets including police personnel and even journalists. The Balochistan Liberation Army
(BLA), a banned militant outfit that demands an independent Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the majority of the killings, justifying them as a
response to the ‘state’s injustices against the Baloch people’.
The most alarming targeted killing was the murder of Professor Safdar Kayani, acting vice chancellor of University of Balochistan, on April 22.
The BLA victims also included two personnel of the Pakistan Army and two recruits of the Military Intelligence (MI). The four officials were killed in April.
The BLA also killed six boys, most of them from the Hazara community, who were playing cricket in front of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office
on May 30. July saw the targeted killing of 54 people, including a Balochistan High Court lawyer, Ghulam Mustafa. Forty-one 1 people were killed in
August, most victims of targeted killing. The number of people targeted in September was 73.
A majority of the targeted killings’ victims were officials of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, police, intelligence agencies and members of the Punjabi,
Hazara and Baloch ethnic communities, who the BLA claimed, ‘spied’ for the government against Baloch interests.
Terrorism: The year also witnessed an increase in terrorist activities, as 120 bomb blasts, 208 rocket attacks, 141 landmine explosions and 32 hand
grenade attacks were recorded in the province, which killed more than 150 people and injured an estimated 200. Sources said 24 explosions occurred
in January, 71 were recorded in February and 52 explosions occurred in March.
There were 32 explosions in April, including 19 rocket attacks, six hand grenade assaults and six bomb blasts, which killed four people, including three
government officials, and injured nine civilians.
Twenty-one people were killed in terrorist activities in the months of May and June, while around 25 explosions in July killed 16 people, including eight
government officials.
August followed with 16 bomb blasts, 80 rockets attacks, nine hand grenades attacks and two landmine explosions that killed 16 people, including four
government functionaries and injured 60 people.
There were seven rocket attacks, seven bomb blasts and three hand grenade attacks in September that killed seven people, while 12 explosions in
October killed 12 people. Thirty-one explosions in November killed four people, while when 45 explosions, including 16 bomb blasts, 26 rocket attacks
and three landmine explosions in December killed four people.
Around 43 people, including 32 women, were killed in various parts of Balochistan in the name of honour during the first nine months of 2008, said a
report by Aurat Foundation.
In most cases of honour killing, the culprits were reported to be the victim’s family.
Security experts believe the situation in Balochistan could have been worse had the three militant groups - the BLA, the Baloch Republican Army (BRA)
and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) - not declared a ceasefire in September.
However, the BRA announced the end of the ceasefire on January1, saying the government had killed several innocent Baloch tribesmen in fresh
attacks on Dera Bugti. The two other groups are likely to follow suit, analysts say, fearing the Balochistan government was likely to face further problems
in 2009.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\01\03\story_3-1-2009_pg1_15