Hindu trader killed in Pak & Baloch leader writes to US Ambassador in Pak

Hindu trader killed by unidentified men in Pak’s Sindh

Pakistan, October 30, 2012: A Hindu trader was killed in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province during the Eid holidays, triggering protests by the minority community in the Hyderabad region.

Trader Dhayan Chand Bhagri was killed early in the morning on Saturday while he was returning home after selling cattle in the livestock market at Latifabad, his father Sobho Bhagri told the media.

The unidentified killers escaped with Rs 720,000 that Dhayan Chand had earned after selling his cattle, his father said. Members of the Hindu community protested outside the press club in Hyderabad city yesterday and demanded the arrest of those who killed the trader.
The protestors were led by the parents of Dhayan Chand and representatives of various political parties. The protesters shouted slogans and criticised police for not arresting the killers. They appealed to the Sindh Chief Minister to take notice of the incident and direct police to arrest the killers. Police officials in Latifabad said they had lodged an FIR on the basis of a complaint by Sobho Bhagri. Two unidentified persons were mentioned in the FIR, they said.

– pti

Baloch leader writes to US Ambassador in Pakistan to protect Christian and Hindus

U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Richard G. Olson

USA, October 29, 2012: A senior Baloch journalist and founder of the American Friends of Balochistan on Sunday urged the new U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Richard G. Olson, to help protect the rights of Christians and Hindus in Pakistan. In a missive to Olson, AFB chief Ahmar Mustikhan also asked him to end human rights abuses in Balochistan. Following is the full text of Mustikhan’s letter to Olson.

Excellency Ambassador Olson,

Congrats on arriving in Islamabad. At the very outset, you will be doing one of the toughest jobs in the world and I commend you for your courage.

I hope your arrival will spell a new dawn for the minority communities in Pakistan like the Christians and Hindus whose women face forced conversions, rape and sexual slavery on a daily basis. I also hope you will meet with top leaders of Christian and Hindu civil society organizations, and leading organizations such as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, and Women’s Action Forum at your earliest convenience to help protect the rights of women and religious minorities.

Other key organizations working for the rights of the under-privileged include Pakistan Institute for Labor Education and Research and Pakistan Fisherfolks Forum.

As an American taxpayer, I call upon you to help end Islamabad’s kill and dump, torture, extrajudicial killings and near-genocidal policies in Balochistan and work fearlessly for the right to self-determination for the people of Balochistan.You may please make an effort to reach out to the leaders of Balochistan National Party, led by “Baloch Nelson Mandela” Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Party led by Dr. Malik Baloch, Baloch Republican Party led by Brahumdagh Bugti and Jamhoori Watan Party led by Talal Bugti.

These parties are some of the most important political parties from Balochistan and enjoy the popular mandate of the people of Balochistan. These democratic and secular parties must be allowed to form the government after the upcoming elections, but it seems like the secret services want to block their way.

The main challenge in Balochistan is controlling the Military Intelligence, Inter-Services Intelligence and Frontier Corps and allowing the civilians to find a political solution.

Over the last couple of decades, Pakistan’s secret services have spawned death squads such as the Baloch Mussalla Diffa Tanzim, Tehrik Nifaz Aman and the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. Alongside the secret services, these death squads have turned Balochistan into a bloody killing field.

I like to point out that under the Patrick Leahy Amendment conducting business with rogue units of any military such as the M.I. or I.S.I. is forbidden under U.S. law. I urge you to uphold the U.S. law in letter and spirit and forbid any business with such entities like the I.S.I. and the M.I.

At the same time, if the Baloch Liberation Army or the Baloch Liberation Front targets any unarmed civilian, they must be declared terrorist outfits immediately. Their sponsors and supporters in the West must also be brought to justice.Wishing you success and safety in your mission.

Sincerely,
Ahmar Mustikhan

– pcp