Baloch activists observe Black Day against Pak atrocities

A large number of exiled Baloch activists recently took to the streets of Berlin, Canada and the United Kingdom to observe Black Day and protested against Pakistan's forceful occupation of Balochistan.

The protesters chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and carried flags to commemorate what they say was the annexation of Balochistan in 1948 by Pakistan's armed forces.

Aziz Baloch, a Free Balochistan movement activist in Canada, said that Pakistan army has been conducting an internal displacement throughout Balochistan for many years. He further claimed that Islamabad has forcefully abducted 20,000 Baloch people till now.

"Even after seven decades of its forceful occupation, Pakistan has failed to provide even basic facilities such as primary education, healthcare and potable water to the people of the resource-rich province of Balochistan," he added.

Aziz further called the much-vouched China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a 'satanic coalition' between the two countries.

"The China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is constantly touted as the economic game changer by Islamabad administration has only added to the woes of the people of the region," said Aziz.

Further, President of the Canada-based World Baloch Women's Forum Professor Naela Quadri Baloch said, "Pakistan has sold Balochistan to China."

"The Chinese Navy and other forces are coming to Balochistan because Pakistan is no more able to keep us, slaves," Naela Quadri said.

The Baloch activists have been trying to voice their concerns at multiple international platforms, including the United Nations.

Recently, at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, activists raised the issue of enforced disappearances, torture and killings of several Baloch activists and intellectuals.

A Pakistan journalist, named Taha Siddiqui, said that the Islamabad government has been neglecting the instances of abduction of the Baloch natives for many years.

"There is a camp for missing Baloch persons outside the Islamabad Press Club that is going on for many years now. And, it does not get any coverage in local media. There are women and children sitting with photos of their loved ones who have been missing for months, years and even at times for decades. And, there is no end to their misery," Siddiqui said.

Siddiqui, in a March 28 interview, had informed that March 27 is observed as 'Black Day' as on that day Pakistan attacked the province in 1948 and illegally occupied it with internationally recognised borders and a legal system of governance.

A large number of people in Balochistan are internally displaced whereas many have taken exile in other countries. The situation is deteriorating as the Pakistan army and its intelligence agency are on a rampage to eliminate the identity of indigenous Baloch people.