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HRCP fact-finding missions’ report 45
government dominated by Punjabi leadership amalgamated all four provinces of West Pakistan into one single
unit in 1955. This political decision marginalized smaller provinces and undermined minority ethnic identities. 29
After a few years of conflict, the central government took control of the province. An amnesty was declared
but when the Baloch leaders came down from the mountains, they were caught and hanged. This betrayal has
left bitter memories and deepened the mistrust between the Central government and the Baloch nationalists.
Alow-level of insurgency continued, and once again intensified in 1964-65, breaking into an armed
conflict between the military and Baloch nationalists.. The number of fatalities and casualties are not documented,
but independent sources say that at least 2000 people including military personnel lost their lives.
In 1972, Balochistan had its first elected provincial government and many Baloch members blessed
the new Constitution. Soon afterwards, the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dismissed the provincial legislature
of Balochistan after accusing the ruling party of being involved in transporting Soviet arms to Balochistan. The
Bhutto government claimed that these arms were discovered in Islamabad and were destined for Balochistan.
The leadership of National Awami Party (the ruling party in the province) was arrested. Baloch nationalists
reacted strongly. The main leaders amongst these were the Marri and Mengal tribesmen led by Khair Bux
Marri and Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal. Many of them took up arms and fled to the mountains. In September
of 1974, the government sent 80,000 troops to put down the insurgency. It is reported that at least 3,000
people lost their lives. There are, however, no official figures available. It is widely acknowledged that
^discriminate use of superior force including air power was used against Baloch camps and villages.
After the suppression of the revolt, the two Baloch leaders went into exile. Marri went to Afghanistan
and Mengal to the United Kingdom only to return years later. During this period the name of the Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA) cropped up. They were accused of being behind the insurgency which lingered on into
the 1980s. The BLA is reported to have been a pro-Moscow underground militant group, but faded away
from public view after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. There are some unconfirmed reports that their
initial recruits were drawn from the Baloch Student Organisation (BSO), but the present BSO denies any
connection to BLA.
In recent years, the BLA has surfaced again and seems to have swelled its support. It has claimed
responsibility for a number of acts of violence. Their identity is, however, unknown. Official sources allege that
they operate throughout Balochistan but also admit that they have no firm knowledge of its structure andshape.
The new crisis
A simmering insurgency has continued in Balochistan over the last three decades, but, since the early
1970s, there has been no open armed conflict between the government and the Baloch tribes. There were
press reports of tensions followed by consultations and meetings between leaders of the ruling party and
Nawab Akbar Bugti. Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali visited the Nawab in Dera Bugti. Baiochistan’s
Chief Minister publicly acknowledged the need to consult the Nawab. 30 In early 2000, tensions rose but by in
the beginning of 2005, it boiled over. Some key incidents appear to have flared tempers leading to the present
crisis. Since incidents of violence against the Baloch have been poorly reported, they are not traced here with
any precision. These tensions can broadly be traced to the following incidents:
♦ On January 7 ,h , 2000, the gunning down of a judge of the Balochistan High Court, Justice
Nawaz Marri and subsequent arrest of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri on charges of having authored the crime.
The judge was shot dead by unknown assailants. The Nawab was released in July 2001, after remaining in
prison for 18 months. A team of HRCP members visited him in Querta jail and confirmed that he was kept in
solitary confinement. He was disoriented and extremely bitter when the HRCP representatives met him.
♦ Soon after the arrest of Nawab Marri, the BLA re-emerged. Their identity is unknown but the
organization has claimed responsibility for a number of bomb blasts, acts of sabotage and rocket attacks. Their
spokespersons identify themselves as Azad Baloch, Mirak Baloch or Colonal Doda Baloch.