Background
Violence, protests and strikes erupted in Balochistan last week when the mutilated bodies of Baloch Nationalist Movement (BNM) chief Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, BNM vice-president Lala Munir and Baloch Republican Party leader Sher Muhamamd Bugti were found in an area bordering Iran. The three Baloch nationalist leaders were kidnapped on April 3rd by unidentified gunmen from a local lawyer’s office in Turbat. Unrest in Balochistan continues as many locals blame domestic intelligence agencies for the leaders’ deaths. Ghulam Muhammad Baloch was also credited with helping arrange the release of the UNHCR’s Quetta Director, John Solecki (an American).
Analysis
Insider Brief sources report that the three murdered nationalist leaders — including Baloch — had actually had a hand in the kidnapping of John Solecki alongside several government “bigwigs” and Baloch sardars (local tribal chiefs). Large sums of money totaling several million dollars were handed over to the kidnappers to secure Solecki’s release. Infighting ensued between the involved parties over the distribution of the release funds resulting in the deaths of Baloch, Munir and Bugti.
This explanation has a strong degree of credibility (kidnapping for money being a time honored tradition in that part of Pakistan) and helps counter an otherwise inconsistent allegation that Pakistani intelligence was behind the kidnapping and subsequent murder. State intelligence agencies would most certainly have anticipated that the deaths of these leaders would have resulted in the destabilization we’re witnessing in Balochistan, an already volatile province. They would not have intentionally mutilated the bodies and left them to be found only to play into the hands of local insurgents.
If true, it would appear that localized greed, not intelligence agencies, can be blamed for the deaths of the three leaders.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Blackmail In Balochistan « Pak Alert Press // Apr 15, 2009 at 7:44 am
[...] Balochistan Violence: Incited by Infighting? [...]
2 The Story of Bugti’s Death « Pak Alert Press // Apr 18, 2009 at 4:31 am
[...] Balochistan Violence: Incited by Infighting? Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)US military to escalate ‘war on terror’ by striking deeper into PakistanCrossing the rubicon By Munizae JahangirBugtiNo Title [...]
3 Shohaz Baloch // Apr 26, 2009 at 1:53 pm
The story of murder of Baloch leaders is very simple and understandable. there is no any confusion because the Baloch leaders Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Muneer and Sher Muhammad were abducted on 03.04.2009 in the presence of several eye witnesses in day light using the vehicles of Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies working in Turbat. Some eye witnesses know personally some kidnappers of the kidnappers who are who are known in Turbat. Now as far the question of money and the distribution of that is concern, if it is true which is imposiible, but if it is so, than it means the state intelligence authorities in high level were behind the scene and they were involved in abduction of Mr. Solekci because it has proofs of eye witnesses that the Baloch leaders were kidnapped by the officials of FC, MI and ISI from Kachkol Ali’s Law chamber openly and after seven days their dead bodies found on 15 kms distance from Turbat. Secondly it should be think that the UN official was released on the same day in which the Baloch leaders were kidnaped. and if statement of Mr. Rahaman Malik is true that the leaders were kidnapped by some external forces and India is behind that, then it is shame for Pakistan that its Security forces and intelligence are working for another country and they are doing what India instruct them. Pakistan should listen the cry of the crowd and must first arrest the culprit officials of FC, MI and ISI in Turbat who are involved in kidnapping and murdering of Baloch Leaders and after that make a high level commission for investigation in the matter and form a judicial inquiry.
4 noman habib // Aug 11, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I think in case of Balochistan there are two main issues
1.Outside intervention
2.common mans uplift and restoration of fundamental rights of common man.
If we manage to kill outside intervention then it will be easy to deal with internal disturbance. Hot temper will harm both sides,it has to be tough policy outside and justice inside will solve the problem
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