Turbat: An anti terror court has sentenced central vice chairperson of BSO (azaad) Ms. Karima Baloch and two others for three years and imposed on penalty of 150 thousand Pakistani rupees, the court however acquitted peer Jan Baloch of the treason charges. According to details Ms. Karima Baloch, Hammal Baloch and Wahab Baloch were charged under section 123,124 of Pakistan’s law on 14 August 2006. These sections apparently constitute treason if proved. Ms. Karima Baloch and others were accused of treason when they joined a protest rally to observe 14 August (the independence day of Pakistan) as a black day and protest against forced disappearance of thousands Baloch men and women at Shaheed Fida Chowk in Turbat town in Balochistan.

The “special judge” declared them abscond and sentenced and fined them in their absence.

We the BaluchWarna team strongly condemn the sentencing of BSO (azaad) vice chairperson Ms Karima Baloch and others.

1. We believe the judge has sentenced them under pressure from Pakistan’s intelligence agencies (ISI) and MI (Military Intelligence), as it is an open secret that judges in Pakistan has no power to take any decision independently.

2. It is an undeniable fact that Baloch has nothing to do with Pakistan’s independence and 14 August is observed as a “day of mourning” and condemnation all over Balochistan every year. Sentencing only three people in this regard we believe is illogical.

3. If Pakistan’s judges are really free do decide whatever they want then they must take action against the intelligence agencies who have kidnapped thousands of Baloch youth, elderly, and women. Sentencing those who protest against such atrocities we believe is misuse of power by the Pakistani court and the so called “special judge”.

4. Protesting against state atrocities i.e. illegal detentions, extra judicial murders, rape and misconduct of state intelligence agencies is the democratic right of every individual and for exercising this right Baloch people should not be sentenced.

5. Recently three Baloch political leaders namely Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch had been murdered by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies but the courts did not taken any action. The killers of those Baloch leaders are still at large. Baloch student and political activists are being abducted on daily bases but courts do not take any action.

6. Wahid Qamber Baloch who has been acquitted by Balochistan high court due lack of evidence but the ATF (anti terror force) are holding him illegally. His family members including his daughter are currently on hunger strike in Balochistan and Karachi. Again we see no action from the courts and judges.

7. 23-year school teacher Ms. Zarina Baloch is still in custody in Pakistan and her case has been well documented by national and international human right groups that she is being used as a sex slave by Pakistani army. Courts have taken no action against this heinous crime of the military perpetrators. Yet the Baluch activists are being sentenced for opposing such inhuman crimes of the army of Pakistan.

There are numerous such incidents which the courts have simply ignored and took no action against the state sponsored perpetrators. We believe this is biasness of the Pakistani courts to sentence Baloch people for exercising their democratic right but the abductors of thousands of Baloch are not only roaming freely but abducting more and more innocent people.