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HRCP says Mengal kept in iron cage
By Our Staff Reporter
http://www.dawn.com
KARACHI, Jan 8: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed
concern over the manner in which the trial of Akhtar Mengal is being
conducted inside the Karachi Central Prison.
The Secretary General of HRCP, Mr Iqbal Haider, told Dawn on Monday that Mr
Mengal had been forced to sit in an iron cage away from his counsel. “He is
being denied even the most basic amenities like bedding and pillow, medical
treatment, home food and permission to see his relatives,” Mr Haider said.
It was only on the orders of the ATC judge that a representative of the HRCP
was allowed to observe the trial. No newsman or citizen could witness the
trial, he said. “The trial does not fulfill the criteria of justice.”
The special prosecutor opposed the HRCP’s request to be allowed to observe
the trial. He also opposed Mr Mengal’s request for medical treatment, saying
that he was in “a perfect shape”.
Quoting Mr Mengal, the HRCP official said the “jail administration has
nothing to do with his custody; in fact the Military Intelligence is
conducting the trial.” Mr Haider called upon the authorities to allow
journalists and Mr Mengal’s relatives to witness the trial.
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Man hanged in public in south-east
Iran
Tue. 23 Jan 2007
Iran Focus
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 23 – A man was hanged in public in south-eastern (Balochistan)
Iran, the semi-official daily Jomhouri Islami reported on Monday.
The man, identified as Touraj Siahkamari, was hanged in the town of
Iranshahr. The report did not state the date of the execution.
He was accused of drug trafficking.
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Conservation of Baloch hero’s
mausoleum
MULTAN, Jan 25: A sum of Rs 2 million has been released by the Punjab
government for conservation of mausoleum of Baloch folk hero Mir Chakar Khan
Rind at Okara district under a Rs3.566 million scheme.
According to Punjab archaeology department officials, work on the
conservation scheme is likely to begin by the end of next month.
According to a book by S.A.J Shirazi, the Baloch king from 15th century,
Chakar Khan, also known as Chakar-i-Azam, lived in Sevi (Sibbi) in
Balochistan and became the head of Rind tribe after the death of his father
Mir Shahak Khan. He had founded a kingdom which, however, proved short-lived
due to civil war between Lashari and Rind tribes of Balochistan.
He is the centre of Balochi love lore and war ballad. Mir Chakar Khan and
Mir Gwaharam Khan, the head of Lashari tribe, fought a long war that spanned
over many years and the ballads that are still the part of Baloch oral
literature, commemorate the personal gallantry of the two heroes.
After the war, Mir Chakar Khan Rind settled in Satghara area in Punjab in
1518. Afghan king Sher Shah Suri had sought help from Mir Chakar Khan Rind
but he refused. His forces, under the command of his son Mir Shahdad Khan
joined Humayun when after a long exile in Persia, the Mughal king came back,
recaptured Delhi, and ousted Suri dynasty in 1556. Emperor Humayun, as a
reward, conferred a vast land holding upon him and Mir Chakar Khan ruled
there till his death in 1565. His followers who had accompanied him to
Satghara, built a tomb after the death of the hero. — APP
Sources: Dawn the international
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Baloch salvation
lies in unity, moot told
By Our Staff Reporter
http://www.dawn.com/
KARACHI, Jan 22: Speakers at a
literary function held on Sunday evening called upon Baloch writers and
poets to promote the Balochi language. Highlighting the importance of
language, they said it was an extremely important element in sustaining a
national liberation movement and in the survival of a nation.
The speakers pointed out that in the national liberation movements of
Vietnam, Eygpt, Bangladesh, India, Palestine, and elsewhere in the world,
writers and poets had played a key role in awakening the people.
The function which was largely attended by Balochi writers, poets and other
literary figures was organised by Karachi based Baloch Unity Conference (BUC)
and Professor Saba Dashtiari, a prominent Baloch literary figure and an
educationist from Balochistan was the key speaker.
Professor Dashtiari traced the history of Balochi language, saying it was
one of the world’s primitive languages with its existence traced to 4000
years ago.
Tracing the Baloch people’s national struggle from 1927 to 2007, the
professor said it was regrettable the Baloch people could not build
political institutions. This was the reason the history of the Baloch
national struggle was based on personalities who had played a decisive role
in shaping our political culture, he argued.
According to Dashtiari, this caused fragmentation and friction in the
nationalist camps and instead of thinking in terms of one-nation, we are
representing the views of different groups and ideologies
He urged the Baloch writers and poets to work against factionalism and mere
slogans and dedicate themselves to national salvation by creating national
awarness.
Earlier, Mr Akhram Baloch and Elahi Bakhsh explained the Baloch Unity
Conference objectives. They renewed the pledge to work for Baloch people and
expressed solidarity with their national struggle.
In the evening, prominent Baloch poets Abid Askani, Zafar Karim Baloch,
Fateh Naskandi, Dost Mohammad Dostal, Ishaq Kamosh recited their verses
which enthralled the audience.
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US backing operation against
Baloch: Mengal
Staff Report
25-01-2007
http://dailytimes.com.pk
QUETTA: Former Balochistan
chief minister Sardar Attaullah Mengal on Wednesday accused the United
States of supporting Islamabad against the Baloch people because “the US
does not need the services of the Baloch people”.
Talking to reporters at his native Khuzdar district, Mengal said that
President General Pervez Musharraf and JUI-F Balochistan chief Maulana
Sherani were loyal to the US. He ruled out any alliance of Baloch
nationalists with the JUI-F and said that the religious party’s support for
the military operation in Balochistan had exposed its agenda.
The elderly Baloch leader said that it would make no difference for the
Baloch people if the government banned his Balochistan National Party. “We
are Baloch and don’t need any party or flag,” he said.
Commenting on his son Akhtar Mengal’s arrest, Mengal said the government was
mistaken that by arresting his son and other Baloch leaders, it would compel
the Baloch nationalists to give up their struggle for self-rule and control
over their resources.
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