Balochi Culture, the “new” terrorist

Pakistan’s security forces have started a massive crackdown on the local Baloch people of Balochistan, more than 200 people have been arrested and taken to undisclosed locations, whom the forces claim to be “miscreants”, while the families of these innocent people have been insisting that most of them are students, and have been arrested for the hidden purpose of suppressing the voice of freedom, which has become the aim of almost every Baloch in Balochistan.
The numbers of the army personals have been increased and every city in Balochistan has dozens of check posts which though are said to bring peace but actually are meant to safeguard the plunder of Baloch resources from their motherland. These check posts are presently working not to check the “law and order situation” but also to keep an eye on Baloch people and keep them away from their own culture.
A local resident of Quetta, who has a check post just in front of his house says, “ I have to face them everyday, they make fun of my Balochi outfit and ask me not to wear the clothes of the “barbarians”, while similar attitude is also shown towards our family members, they avoid going out as much as they can.”
This situation is found throughout Balochistan, where people are forced to speak in Punjabi with the army officials and asked not to wear their cultural clothes. Baloch people who fear that such acts of Pakistan army are meant to snatch the culture of Baloch people, which has a thousands of years of history, and Baloch people have a romantic attachment with their culture, and this attitude is bringing a nation wide anger against Pakistan, this act is adding to the burning volcano of Balochistan, before it may burst out at any moment and burn everything in its way, United Nations must immediately intervene and the peace loving people should provide Baloch nation with moral support, for their on going struggle for Independence.

WE ARE THE SONS OF THE BALOCH

We are the sons of the Baloch,
Free and sovereign,
Masters of our own destiny;

The earth panics from our wrath,
Castles shake in fear,
We are tigers,
Fearless defenders (of those who seek our help);

We are an encouragement to our fathers,
The pride and honor of our mothers and sisters,
Support of our brothers;

Our blood one day,
Will be required by our nation,
We will prove to the lullabies given by mothers;

We have sucked the milk of honour,
In the shadow of swords,
Red blood in our eyes shows descent from martyrs;

We are defenders of the helpless and the poor,
We have destroyed the castle of terror,
The days of oppression have gone forever.

Greater Balochistan

Pakistan: Rouged Rule Of Law Allows Torture To Exist

The Convention against Torture (CAT) prohibits torture, and requires parties to take effective measures to prevent it in any territory under its jurisdiction. This prohibition is absolute and non-derogable. "No exceptional circumstances whatsoever" may be invoked to justify torture, including war, threat of war, internal political instability, public emergency, terrorist acts, violent crime, or any form of armed conflict. Torture cannot be justified as a means to protect public safety or prevent emergencies. Neither can it be justified by orders from superior officers or public officials. The prohibition on torture applies to all territories under a party's effective jurisdiction, and protects all people under its effective control, regardless of citizenship or how that control is exercised. Since the Conventions entry into force, this absolute prohibition has become accepted as a principle of customary international law.

As a result of the government of Pakistan signing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and also Convention against Torture (CAT) acts of torture while in custody remain solely the responsibility of the Pakistan government. Violations of the ICCPR and the CAT must be placed on the government. Proxy torture in Pakistan a method frequently used to combat the 'war on terror' cannot be made as an excuse to torture while in custody or to allow foreign forces to conduct torture practices.

There is a dire need to make torture a heinous crime in Pakistan law. Until and unless the practice of torture is criminalized through the law there are fewer chances to stop the grave human rights violations that are occurring in Pakistan. Torture will only end as the best tool for confessional statements when it is realized as a crime and therefore the concept of fair trial and justice can be achieved.