Welcome to BSO

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.

Urgent Appeal:
Pakistan, Balochistan:
Unlawful Detention and
degradation treatment of
President of Balochistan
National Party (BNP).

This urgent appeal is intend to bring into the
attention of the international community and
Human Rights concerned organization about the
illicit detention and mortification of Balochistan
National Party Chief, Akhtar Mengal by the
Pakistan Security agencies in Karachi prison.

Akhtar Mengal and 500 senior Balochistan National Party activists arrested in November 2006, before President
Musharaf visit to Balochistan, to stop BNP from peaceful long march against military operation, enforced
disappearances and systematic Talibanization of Balochistan province by military rulers.

Akhtar Mengal:

Akhtar Mengal is president of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and former Chief Minister of Balochistan
province (1997-1998). After May 1998, nuclear tests conducted by central government in Balochistan, he resigned
from Chief Minister Post and continued as leader of opposition in Balochistan Assembly. BNP believes on de-
nuclearization of Baloch region and opposes Pakistan’s nuclear and missile development progra m for which
Balochistan is being used as testing ground since early 1970’s.

BNP is a secular, moderate nationalist party which demands political, economic and social rights of the people. It
demands autonomy and control of the province’s natural resources and development projects (including Gwadar
port).

BNP opposes the establishment of military cantonments, unprecedented troop deployment and check posts
established in eastern, southern and western regions of Balochistan to suppress the progressive Baloch
nationalists.

BNP is also concerned over systematic Talibanization of Balochistan by central government and security agencies.
Party believes that Islamabad policies are intended for consolidating its control of the province’s politics and
resources through proxy religious parties, and suppressing moderate, progressive and nationalist” forces.

Akhtar Mengal unlawful detention:

On April 2, 2006 Balochistan National Party held a rally of around one hundred thousand Baloch people, against
military operation, enforced disappearances, establishment of military cantonments, Gwadar port project and
exploitation of resources of Balochistan province by central government.

After successful political rally and mass support by the people of Balochistan, military and security forces started
new phase of harassment and intimidation against Balochistan National Party leaders. On April 5, 2006,
undercover agents of security agencies tried to abduct Akhtar Mengal’s school going children. Akhtar Mengal
stopped his car and asked them who they were, why he was being followed, and what they wanted of him. They
refused to give any satisfactory answer. Considering a security issue, Akhtar Mengal security guards picked up the
two riders of one motorcycle and carried them back to Akhtar’s house intending to hand them over to the police, at
which stage the two admitted to being army personnel. Almost immediately, a large posse of law enforcement
agency men (LEA) arrived at the house, took away their two companions who had been picked up, and laid siege
to the house and its occupants.

On April 11, Iqbal Haider, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) along with a
group of fellow commission members, visited Akhtar’s house and that same night forces were withdrawn from the
house and Akhtar Mengal and his family were free to come and go.

At some later stage, it was found that a havildar of the Pakistan Army, one Qurban Hussain, had filed on April 5
2006 an FIR (170/06) at Darakshan Police Station against Akhtar Mengal and the four concerned guards. On the
basis of this FIR, a case (8/06) was registered in the Anti-Terrorism Court-V (ATC), Karachi. When Akhtar’s
relatives attempted to file an FIR against the LEAs, it was refused. A constitutional petition (D-1917/06) was filed
on Akhtar’s behalf in the Sindh High Court asking that an FIR be accepted and registered. On October 13, the court
restrained the ATC from pronouncing a judgment against the four accused. The restraining order is still in force
and despite this restraining order, Akhtar’s four guards named in the FIR, who were under arrest, were convicted
on December 9, 2006, by the ATC and sentenced to several terms of imprisonment, including life, for each of the
offences and each was fined Rs.140,000.

Akhtar Mengal himself remained free to move about at will, which he did, speaking at public meetings in various
places in Balochistan, and continuing with his normal political engagements until November 28, 2006 when he
was arrested, together with 14 of his party men, by the Balochistan police and taken to Lassi Farm House in Hub
Town, which was declared a sub-jail. He was kept there until December 26, 2006 when his arrest was disclosed
and he was produced before the same Anti Terrorist Court. His 14 companions were removed to an undisclosed
destination. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

Akhtar Mengal degrading treatment and Trial:

Akhtar Mengal is not being trialed in open court but in a Karachi prison. In camera, Human rights groups and
family members are not allowed to witness the proceedings. Mr Iqbal Haider, secretary-general of the Human
Rights Commission of Pakistan, witnessed the first hearing in his trial and this is what he saw: “Mr Mengal was
brought into the courtroom and shoved him into an iron cage with bars all around that stood in a corner away from
his counsel.

Akhtar Mengal’s father, Vetran Baloch nationalist, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, has expressed the fear that the
government and security agencies might kill his son. Akhtar Mengal is denied from all basic medical facilities too.
Akhtar Mengal lawyer has moved three applications, one seeking the provision of medical attention, a second
asking that he be given ‘B’ class accommodation, and the third for his release on bail. The hearing of all the
applications was deferred. The reason given for the deferment of the ‘B’ class application was that no income tax
certificate was available, but when on January 10, a certificate was produced to the presiding officer, no order was
passed. On January 10, when senior advocate Mr Azizullah Sheikh arrived at Karachi Central Prison to have his
papers signed by his client, Akhtar Mengal, he was denied access to him. Iqbal Haider from HRCP was also, that
same day, was refused permission to meet Akhtar.

On January 19, 2007 the judge of an anti-terrorism court disallowed the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
(HRCP) from observing the proceedings of a case against former chief minister of Balochistan Akhtar Mengal.
Even the judge had denied entry into the court to the HRCP secretary-general and other nominated members of
commission to witness trial.

All proceedings of trial are being conducted in camera to intimidate Mr. Mengal and progressive Baloch politicians
to stop them from demanding socio-economic and political rights of the people of Balochistan.
HRCP secretary-general said “Hence there is no justification for holding trial inside the prison in camera and
denying presence of even observers of the HRCP and family members”.
Akhtar Mengal, as head of political party, four times elected representative, former chief minister and leader of
opposition of Balochistan assembly and prominent politician is entitled to all basic legal rights and facilities.
However, he has been denied to all basic legal and human rights just because of his political standing and
opposition to military rule and operation in Balochistan province.

Appeal:

Balochistan National Party, Appeal to the International Community, European Union, OHCHR, HRW, AI, and
concerned human rights organizations to press upon the Pakistan military rulers to abide by the domestic and
international covenants and must not intimidate, harass, disappear, and eliminate minority ethnic Baloch people
and their political representatives, those demanding political and economic rights of their people and region.
BNP appeals for open and fair trial for Akhtar Mengal. It is not only in the interest of justice but also in the interest of
the government to allow trials in open courts.

We appeal to the International Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth and EU Human Rights commission to
appoint observers to monitor Akhtar Mengal trial and investigate in cases of enforced disappearances of ethnic
Baloch and Sindhi people in Pakistan by the security agencies. It is also requested that UN, EU, should take
notice of gross human rights violations, systematic elimination of progressive and secular Baloch nationalists,
enforced disappearances, and political, economic and legal discrimination of ethnic Baloch minority in Pakistan.

We appeal that large number of BNP members held behind the bars, and denied by basic legal and prison rights,
should be given justice and must be treated according to the United Nation Standard Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners.

Thanking you,
Your sincerely,
Balochistan National Party
Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

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