Nov 20: Shaheed Mir Balach Marri

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Nov 20: Shaheed Mir Balach Marri

Pakistan’s Invisible Baluch Displacement Crisis

There are estimates that more than 700,000 people have been displaced across Balochistan since 2005

By: Abdul Hai Kakar & Abubakar Siddique

He once dreamed of a bright future and a stable career working for Pakistan’s biggest gas company.

Instead, Suhail Ahmed Bugti has been crushing stones for the past 10 years after his clan was banished from their gas-rich homeland in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province into the stony deserts of Rohri district in neighboring Sindh Province.

What next for Baluchistan?

Every day is another struggle for the province of Baluchistan, which continues to remain unsteady with the horrifying tumult and turbulence in the region. It’s sure a pity to watch such unrest grip thousands of families frequently, without a silver lining to fall back on. But then one can’t ignore but notice the pattern Baluchistan has fallen into, its trajectory being very similar to former East Pakistan.

So, naturally the question becomes ‘Is Baluchistan the next East Pakistan’? The resemblance is eerie to the extent that one cannot help but wonder, ‘What next for Baluchistan’? Will all this chaos finally result into a separate province or very much like Azad Kashmir carry on with the struggle forever? Located in the southwest region of Pakistan, Baluchistan is the biggest of the four provinces of the country. Administratively divided among three countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, it has been a turf of turmoil and conflict since its annexation by Pakistan in 1947 and still continues to be. Notably known as the ‘Baluchistan Conflict’, it is a major growing conflict between the Pakistani government and the Baloch nationalists.

June 18: Shaheed Mureed Bugti

June 18: Shaheed Mureed Bugti

Geneva: A Conference with the title of “Balochistan: Struggle for indendence”

“Balochistan: struggle for independence” conference held in Geneva Switzerland. September 13, 2013 at 12:25am Geneva: A Conference with the title of “Balochistan: struggle for independence” was held in Geneva Switzerland on Thursday (Sep 12, 2013). Baloch Leader Nawabzada Mehran Marri organized a conference in Geneva to discuss the current situation of Balochistan. Human Rights activists from different groups and Baloch Leader Noor Deen Mengal and prominent journalist and human right activist Mr Tarek Fatah also attended and spoke to conference. The General Secretary of Baloch Republican Party Switzerland chapter, Mr. Azizullah Bugti addressed the conference.