Balochs Hold Anti-Pakistan Protest Outside White House Against Forced Disappearances
Washington: Members of the Balochistan diaspora staged a protest outside the White House on Sunday (local time) against human rights violations by Pakistan in the region and the enforced disappearances of Baloch people. Waheed Baloch, one of the protesters and the former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, told the news agency ANI that they are holding protests against the atrocities committed in Balochistan by Pakistan over the last 75 years. “We’re protesting against the atrocities that have been done to Balochistan by Pakistan for the last 75 years. We’re protesting here in support of those Baloch families that were abducted and missing. For the last 75 years, Pakistan has forcefully occupied Balochistan,” he said.
Responding to Baloch people expectations from the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, he said that there is no hope as there have never been free and fair polls. “There has never been a free and fair election in Pakistan, and there is no hope…for Balochistan, they just reelect their nominees… It is unconstitutional and undemocratic,” he added.
Dismissing the claim that Pakistan’s accusation that Baloch people are sponsored by the Indian government, he stated that Pakistan have lied in the past and are lying again. “They (Pakistan) just say that Balochis are sponsored by the government of India but they never have produced any evidence…it is rubbish. They lied before, and they are lying again. If India had been supporting Balochistan, Balochistan would not have been this weak. These are just distracted tactics…,” he added.
Another protester and Sindhi foundation member, Sufi Laghari said that one of the biggest failures of Pakistan is that they always blame India. “One of the biggest failure of Pakistan is that they always blame India…thousands of people in Balochistan have disappeared; do you think it is sponsored by India? These are useless weapons they’re using. These are just blames, games and fake theories…that’s why we are here in this difficult weather; we came here, and our families and children are here…This is going to be the end of the story for Pakistan and we are going to get the freedom soon,” he added.
A young Baloch protestor Sammi Baloch, stated that whatever happened to the Baloch people is atrocious and a violation of human rights violations.
“I am here because the Baloch genocide is happening and it has been happening since partition… We are here because many Baloch people have been murdered and they have been genocided and kidnapped by the Pakistani army and the military today we are here to stand with them and their families because what happened to them is atrocious and is human rights violation,” she said.