Nine
people were killed during protests on 11 April 2009, following the
murder of three Baloch leaders in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP), a FORUM-ASIA member, also confirmed the case. The
news below is from the E-Newsletter of Religious Minorities for peace
and harmony in Pakistan issued on 5 May.
Nine
people were killed during protests on 11 April 2009, following the
murder of three Baloch leaders in Pakistan. The Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP), a FORUM-ASIA member, also confirmed the case. The
news below is from the E-Newsletter of Religious Minorities for peace
and harmony in Pakistan issued on 5 May.

QUETTA: Nine people
were killed and property worth millions of rupees was ransacked during
protests on 11 April which erupted across the province after the murder
of three Baloch leaders, Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, Munir Baloch and
Sher Muhammad, office holders of the Baloch Republican Party and
the Balochistan National Party, in Turbat. Meanwhile, a shutter down
strike was observed in the provincial capital and other parts of Balochistan
on the second consecutive day. Due to the violence, death toll reaches 20
till 14 April around the province. Baloches are an ethnic minority.

A political leader from Balochistan, Hasil Bazinju of National Party
blamed security forces for the murders. The Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP) also claimed on 9 April that it has credible information
about the killing of Baloch nationalists by the security forces, a statement
issued by the commission claimed on April 9. Those three Baloch
leaders were picked on April 3 by people in plain clothes, who were
accompanied by two vehicles of the Frontier Corps that stood at a distance.     

The Asian Human Rights Commission believes that the life of Balochi
lawyer, Mr. Kachkol Ali is in danger, after he witnessed the abduction
of three clients, shortly before they were found murdered. Although
the captors wore plain clothes, various signs suggest that they were
from Pakistan's military intelligence agencies. According to media
reports, Seantor Lashkari Raisani, President of PPP's Balochistan
chapter resigns from Senate, party office on April 26 after Minister
of Interior's 'statement' on the incident. Balochistan Governor
Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi said on April 29 that Balochistan situation
is worsening and should be addressed immediately.