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| Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) is Non-Profit Organization, working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America, to expose the Occupation of our land (Balochistan) and exploitations of our resources by Pakistani and Iranian Governments, and to bring their Human Rights Violations in Balochistan into the world’s Notice. |
| Salim Baloch Who is salim Baloch? Salim Baloch is the Vice Presedent of Jamhori Watan Party (JWP), who was abducted by Pakistani State agencies last year and was then released after 9 month in solitary cofinement, phsical and mental torture, in an unknown location, is now picked up again by the same agencies. His wareabout, like thousand other Baloch political acivists, are not known. Pakistan's and Asian's Human Right Commission (HRCP and AHRC) have shown grave concern over his forced abduction and disappeance for the 2nd time and are fearful of his life. They have asked Pakistani Govt for his immediate relaese. |
| On this page we have tried to cover all the related news stories about this great young man, a Baloch Nationalist Leader and a hero. We ask the world community to intervene and save this brave man's life and the lives of thousands Baloch who are lingering in Pakistani jails without any fair trail, before it is too late. |
Family hopes for Saleem Baloch’s safe release
Fri, 5 Jan 2007
KARACHI: Within 36 hours of coming before the media in December 2006, and narrating his ordeal of being
kidnapped and detained for over nine months, Saleem Baloch, the acting president of the Jamhoori Watan Party,
was once again picked up, allegedly by the agencies.
Since then, there is no news about his whereabouts. At his house, situated in the Nawa Line area of Lyari,
Saleem Baloch’s family members welcome each day with renewed hope. They also wonder about the nature of
his crime for which he is being punished so severly, without any trial or chance to prove his innocence.
“All accusations against my husband are false. My husband is no terrorist and possesses no arsenal. Nor does
he have links with Al-Qaeda, says Baloch’s wife, with tears in her eyes, adding “He should not be tortured until he
can be proven guilty in court.” The family fears that confessions will be extracted under duress.
Baloch, the acting president of Jamhori Watan Party, was allegedly abducted by the law enforcement agencies
again on 31 December 2006, within weeks of his being released earlier in the month.
Saleem Baloch was previously released on December 14, 2006 after being detained for over nine months. His
arrests have been linked by the media to growing strife between the government and political forces in
Balochistan.
Shortly after his release from his first arrest, he was again ‘picked up’ from his residence in Lyari Town on the
morning before Eid-ul-Azha. Accompanied by his eight-year-old nephew, Saleem Baloch was returning home at 6:
30am from the mosque after saying his Fajr prayers.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, his abduction took place within 36 hours after he
narrated his nine-month ordeal before the media in different cities of Pakistan.
He described his torture and also delivered a statement before a division bench of Sindh High Court. This
statement contained apprehensions that he would be arrested by the secret agencies again.
On interviewing the family, it was learnt by The News that Saleem Baloch had been receiving threatening calls.
and letters on the pretext of his disclosures upon his release.
“My brother was sure he would be kidnapped once again and killed, but he still dared to come in the forefront to
seek protection. He hoped that the court would ensure his security but his request was ignored several times
over,” disclosed Saleem Baloch’s sister, Zainab.
The family suspects that this time round, he has again been picked up by law enforcement officials, due to the
similar vehicles that were used on both occasions. On being informed by the neighbourhood that people were
trying to abduct him, Baloch’s family immediately rushed out and attempted to save him but the kidnappers fled
with their catch.
“I stood in front of the car to stop them but they sped up. The car would have run over me if I didn’t move aside,”
recalls one of Saleem’s sister-in-law.
They also pointed guns at the family members to prevent anyone from chasing them. The victim’s abduction was
also reported to the Lyari town police but to no avail. Saleem’s eight-year-old nephew, Naeem, who was with him
at the time of the incident, still appears disturbed. According to Zainab, he recalls the incident quite a few times in
a day and misses his uncle a lot.
“There were three cars, including a police mobile. They forced uncle to sit in the red car first then shifted him to
the white one. While doing so they dragged him from car to another and accidentally hurt his leg too,” disclosed
eight-year-old.
Clueless about her father’s whereabouts, Saleem’s elder daughter, Shahida Saleem, said: “If they cannot reveal
his whereabouts, they should at least inform us about his safety. My father was not allowed to contact us when he
was picked up last time too. We thought he would never return, but he did and that was the happiest moment in
our lives.”
For his extended family, the seventeen days spent with him were no less than Eid. “I miss my son a lot. The
government has no right to make false claims about human rights when it cannot guarantee basic human
security,” wept Saleem’s mother, Naz Bibi who has suffered two heart attacks since her son went missing.
Saleem Baloch was the sole breadwinner in his house. Supporting an extended family of over fifteen members,
his tanker business had been badly affected in his absence. “My younger brother has been looking after the
business but he is unable to fulfill his responsibilities as he is also busy filing complaints from police stations to
courts and seeking help of human rights organizations,” adds Zainab.
The HRCP has urged the Chief Justice to conduct an investigation into Saleem Baloch’s abduction without
further delay.
Fri, 5 Jan 2007
KARACHI: Within 36 hours of coming before the media in December 2006, and narrating his ordeal of being
kidnapped and detained for over nine months, Saleem Baloch, the acting president of the Jamhoori Watan Party,
was once again picked up, allegedly by the agencies.
Since then, there is no news about his whereabouts. At his house, situated in the Nawa Line area of Lyari,
Saleem Baloch’s family members welcome each day with renewed hope. They also wonder about the nature of
his crime for which he is being punished so severly, without any trial or chance to prove his innocence.
“All accusations against my husband are false. My husband is no terrorist and possesses no arsenal. Nor does
he have links with Al-Qaeda, says Baloch’s wife, with tears in her eyes, adding “He should not be tortured until he
can be proven guilty in court.” The family fears that confessions will be extracted under duress.
Baloch, the acting president of Jamhori Watan Party, was allegedly abducted by the law enforcement agencies
again on 31 December 2006, within weeks of his being released earlier in the month.
Saleem Baloch was previously released on December 14, 2006 after being detained for over nine months. His
arrests have been linked by the media to growing strife between the government and political forces in
Balochistan.
Shortly after his release from his first arrest, he was again ‘picked up’ from his residence in Lyari Town on the
morning before Eid-ul-Azha. Accompanied by his eight-year-old nephew, Saleem Baloch was returning home at 6:
30am from the mosque after saying his Fajr prayers.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, his abduction took place within 36 hours after he
narrated his nine-month ordeal before the media in different cities of Pakistan.
He described his torture and also delivered a statement before a division bench of Sindh High Court. This
statement contained apprehensions that he would be arrested by the secret agencies again.
On interviewing the family, it was learnt by The News that Saleem Baloch had been receiving threatening calls.
and letters on the pretext of his disclosures upon his release.
“My brother was sure he would be kidnapped once again and killed, but he still dared to come in the forefront to
seek protection. He hoped that the court would ensure his security but his request was ignored several times
over,” disclosed Saleem Baloch’s sister, Zainab.
The family suspects that this time round, he has again been picked up by law enforcement officials, due to the
similar vehicles that were used on both occasions. On being informed by the neighbourhood that people were
trying to abduct him, Baloch’s family immediately rushed out and attempted to save him but the kidnappers fled
with their catch.
“I stood in front of the car to stop them but they sped up. The car would have run over me if I didn’t move aside,”
recalls one of Saleem’s sister-in-law.
They also pointed guns at the family members to prevent anyone from chasing them. The victim’s abduction was
also reported to the Lyari town police but to no avail. Saleem’s eight-year-old nephew, Naeem, who was with him
at the time of the incident, still appears disturbed. According to Zainab, he recalls the incident quite a few times in
a day and misses his uncle a lot.
“There were three cars, including a police mobile. They forced uncle to sit in the red car first then shifted him to
the white one. While doing so they dragged him from car to another and accidentally hurt his leg too,” disclosed
eight-year-old.
Clueless about her father’s whereabouts, Saleem’s elder daughter, Shahida Saleem, said: “If they cannot reveal
his whereabouts, they should at least inform us about his safety. My father was not allowed to contact us when he
was picked up last time too. We thought he would never return, but he did and that was the happiest moment in
our lives.”
For his extended family, the seventeen days spent with him were no less than Eid. “I miss my son a lot. The
government has no right to make false claims about human rights when it cannot guarantee basic human
security,” wept Saleem’s mother, Naz Bibi who has suffered two heart attacks since her son went missing.
Saleem Baloch was the sole breadwinner in his house. Supporting an extended family of over fifteen members,
his tanker business had been badly affected in his absence. “My younger brother has been looking after the
business but he is unable to fulfill his responsibilities as he is also busy filing complaints from police stations to
courts and seeking help of human rights organizations,” adds Zainab.
The HRCP has urged the Chief Justice to conduct an investigation into Saleem Baloch’s abduction without
further delay.
Related Links:
-
HRCP writes to interior minister on ‘picking up’ of Mr. Saleem Baloch, Vice President, JWP
-
URGENT ACTION ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME: A politician allegedly
abducted once again by secret service agents after giving his statement in Sindh High Court
-
JWPLeader Goes Missing again
-
Missing citizens: SHC wants report from PM’s office
-
Another Baloch leader missing
-
JWP, leader Saleem Baloch missing in Karachi
-
Story of an illegal Baloch detaninee