Tag: Balochistan

Baloch writer refuses literary award from Pakistan due to state’s oppressive policies
2Jul By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Baloch writer refuses literary award from Pakistan due to state’s oppressive policies

Renowned Baloch poet and author Akbar Barakzai has refused an academic award from Pakistan for the best work in Baloch literature citing the Imran Khan government’s policies ‘inflicted’ on Balochistan that have ‘subjugated’ the populace.Barakzai’s book ‘Zaban Zanti-u-Balochi Zaban Zanti’ had been nominated for the Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award by the Pakistani Academy of Letters (PAL).Upon hearing about the nominations, he rebuffed the academic award and the accompanying 200,000 rupees cash prize through an email sent to the Chairman of the PAL, Dr Yousuf Khushk.In his email, Barakzai thanked the PAL for the nomination but said that he cannot accept this award. When asked about his decision, he cited the policies ‘inflicted’ on Balochistan to ‘subjugate’ its populace.Akbar Barakzai hails f
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Probe launched against torture of two journalists in Balochistan
30Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Probe launched against torture of two journalists in Balochistan

The authorities in Pakistan said they have launched an investigation into torture of two journalists in Chaman for reporting on a coronavirus quarantine centre near the Afghan border.Television reporters Saeed Ali Achakzai and Abdul Mateen Achakzai said they were abused while spending three days in detention in Balochistan province. Photos released by the men showed them with apparent red welts across their backs.Balochistan´s Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said an inquiry was underway into the "brutal incident"."Three officials who were directly involved in the incident have been suspended," Langove said, adding that the original case against the journalists had been dropped.Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also showed concern over the incident.Meanwhile, Pakistan Feder
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Protesting students arrested for demanding internet facilities Quetta
30Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Protesting students arrested for demanding internet facilities Quetta

The police in Pakistan’s Balochistan province arrested over two dozen students while they staged a protest from Quetta Press Club to Balochistan Assembly, demanding access to internet for online classes.The students have been staging a demonstration in Quetta for the past few weeks under the banner of Baloch Students Alliance. They are protesting against online classes in universities across the province.“We were protesting for the availability of internet for online classes,” said Mahrang Baloch, an activist and student leader, who was among the arrested female students.According to a police officer the students tried to organize a rally in the city when there is a complete ban on every kind of gathering as section 144 is imposed. The arrested students were shifted to different police sta
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Enforced disappearance policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan as terrorist state: Baloch leader
28Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Enforced disappearance policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan as terrorist state: Baloch leader

Instead of discouraging the Baloch youth through abductions and torture to end politics, the policy of enforced disappearance is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan a terrorist state at the international level, Chairman of Baloch National Movement (BNM) Khalil Baloch said.In just a single Twitter post, Baloch highlighted the case of Zakir Majeed, a student leader, who is in Pakistani torture cell since last 11 years.“Zakir Majeed has completed 11 years in Pakistani torture cells. Instead of discouraging the Baloch youth through abductions and torture to end politics, this policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan a terrorist state at the international level,” Baloch tweeted.Zakir Majeed was enforcedly disappeared on June 8, 2009 along with two of his friends Waheed and Basit Ba
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Mobile services suspiciously shut down in Pakistan’s Quetta
5Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia

Mobile services suspiciously shut down in Pakistan’s Quetta

Mobile and internet services have been shut down in Pakistan’s Quetta since Monday morning for unknown reasons, causing various problems to general public and the students availing online classes amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.According to the city’s media reports, cellular networks, which includes mobile services and internet went offline on Monday morning for no apparent reasons and have been shut down since.Liaqat Shahwani, the spokesperson for the Balochistan government, denied local government’s involvement in the matter and expressed ignorance on the issue.Shahwani further added that the provincial government has not requested the federal government for this measure and is completely unaware of the federal government’s involvement in the cellular network shutdown.This is not the first
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