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The organisation gave rise to [[Balochistan Liberation Army]], another organisation classified by the Pakistani government as terrorist.<ref>{{cite book|author=Aruna Gill|title=The Indus Intercept|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India|year=2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Ashutosh Misra and Michael E. Clarke|title=Pakistan's Stability Paradox: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|page=83}}</ref> |
The organisation gave rise to [[Balochistan Liberation Army]], another organisation classified by the Pakistani government as terrorist.<ref>{{cite book|author=Aruna Gill|title=The Indus Intercept|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India|year=2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Ashutosh Misra and Michael E. Clarke|title=Pakistan's Stability Paradox: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions|publisher=Routledge|year=2013|page=83}}</ref> |
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==Branches== |
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==Organizational structure== |
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BSO has three factions: |
BSO has three factions: BSO Pajjar, BSO Mangal and BSO Azad. |
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===BSO Mangal=== |
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BSO Mangal, led by Muhiudeen Baloch, has affiliated itself with the [[Balochistan National Party]] (BNP), which is the largest opposition party in the [[Provincial Assembly of Balochistan]]. BSO Mangal advocates on behalf of the rights of [[Brahui language|Brahui]] speaking Balochs in central Balochistan within the [[Politics of Pakistan|parliamentary framework]] of Pakistan. |
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===BSO Pajjar=== |
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BSO Pajjar, led by Ameen Baloch, has affiliated itself with the [[National Party (Pakistan)|National Party]] (NP), the ruling party in Baluchistan. BNP wants more provincial rights and greater autonomy for Baluchistan province within the [[Politics of Pakistan|parliamentary framework]] of Pakistan. |
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{{expand section|date=June 2016}} |
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===BSO Azad=== |
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* '''BSO Azad''' was founded in 2002 by [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] and is currently lead by Karima Baloch.<ref>{{cite web|title=This Woman Is Leading Baloch Students in Their Struggle for Independence From Pakistan|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/10/banuk-karima-baloch-leads-student-organization-balochistan-pakistan/|publisher=Global Voices Online}}</ref> |
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BSO Azad is a pro-independence organization established by [[Allah Nazar Baloch]] in 2002 when he was a medical student.<ref name=GlobalVoices>{{cite web|title=This Woman Is Leading Baloch Students in Their Struggle for Independence From Pakistan|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/10/banuk-karima-baloch-leads-student-organization-balochistan-pakistan/|publisher=Global Voices Online}}</ref><ref name=Zurutuza>{{cite news |author=Karlos Zurutuza |title=A 29-year old woman leads a secular and pro-independence movement which Pakistan labels as "terrorist" |newspaper=Crisis Balochistan |date=27 April 2015 |url=http://www.crisisbalochistan.com/secondary_menu/writers/karlos-zurutuza/a-29-year-old-woman-leads-a-secular-and-pro-independence-movement-which-pakistan-labels-as-terrorist.html |origyear=first published Vice News Spain in 2015}}</ref> |
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BSO Azad was outlawed by the government in 2013 and declared a `terrorist' organization. Its leader Zahid Baloch was abducted in March 2014. His whereabouts are not known. 29 year-old Karima Baloch, a psychology student, currently leads the organization. She insists that the organization uses peaceful means by carrying out demonstrations and marches. It aims to raise the political awareness of the people. However, she has also added that any struggle against injustice is legitimate, whether "peaceful or armed." [[Malik Siraj Akbar]], a Harvard-based political analyst, calls it a "very unique organization that does not have any parallels in Pakistan." It is one of the very few organizations that have managed to mobilize women at a social and political level.<ref name=Zurutuza/> |
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The former leader Zahid Baloch was abducted in [[Quetta]] in the presence of eye witnesses by men who arrived in SUVs used by the Pakistan Army. Zahid was made to squat on the road and hit on the head several times, after which he was blind folded and taken away. The Politce have refused to register a complaint. The organization has been protesting the abduction ever seince. In April 2014, activist Latif Johar went on a hunger strike. It was called off after 46 days t the behest of human rights activist Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur. BSO Azad called for a strike in April 2014, which was supported by all Baloch nationalist parties. Many towns in Balochistan observed a shut down. The organization has also approached the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights asking him to intervene with the Pakistan government and secure the release of Zahid Baloch.<ref name=Digest>[http://intpolicydigest.org/2014/04/27/calls-for-the-release-of-zahid-baloch/ Calls for the Release of Zahid Baloch], International Policy Digest, 27 April 2014.</ref><ref name=Toronto/> |
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In November 2015, Karima Baloch went to Canada and attended the [[Amnesty International]]'s `Rights for Rights' event to raise awareness of the world community on the abductions and disappearances in Balochistan.<ref name=Canada>[http://balochistantimes.com/karima-makes-surprise-appearance-in-ai-event-in-canada/ Karima makes surprise appearance in AI event in Canada], Balochistan Times, 5 December 2015.</ref> She said that she escaped a Pakistani military attack on the town of [[Kech District|Tump]] and stayed underground for nearly a year before arriving in Toronto. It is reported that she intends to apply for refugee status in Canada.<ref name=Toronto>[[Tarek Fatah]], [http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/16/refugee-arrives-in-to-takes-off-niqab-i-knew-i-was-safe Refugee arrives in T.O., takes off niqab: 'I knew I was safe'], Toronto Sun, 24 June 2016.</ref> |
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* [[1970s operation in Balochistan]] |
* [[1970s operation in Balochistan]] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
Revision as of 18:43, 24 June 2016
The Baloch Students Organization (BSO; Urdu: بلوچ اسٹوڈنٹس آرگنائزیشن) is an organisation that campaigns for the independence of Pakistan's Balochistan Province. It was founded as a student movement on 26 November 1967 in Karachi[1] and remains the largest ethnic Baloch student body in the country. The Pakistani government banned the BSO on 15 March 2013, labelling it as a terrorist organisation.[2]
The organisation gave rise to Balochistan Liberation Army, another organisation classified by the Pakistani government as terrorist.[3][4]
Branches
BSO has three factions: BSO Pajjar, BSO Mangal and BSO Azad.
BSO Mangal
BSO Mangal, led by Muhiudeen Baloch, has affiliated itself with the Balochistan National Party (BNP), which is the largest opposition party in the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. BSO Mangal advocates on behalf of the rights of Brahui speaking Balochs in central Balochistan within the parliamentary framework of Pakistan.
BSO Pajjar
BSO Pajjar, led by Ameen Baloch, has affiliated itself with the National Party (NP), the ruling party in Baluchistan. BNP wants more provincial rights and greater autonomy for Baluchistan province within the parliamentary framework of Pakistan.
BSO Azad
BSO Azad is a pro-independence organization established by Allah Nazar Baloch in 2002 when he was a medical student.[5][6]
BSO Azad was outlawed by the government in 2013 and declared a `terrorist' organization. Its leader Zahid Baloch was abducted in March 2014. His whereabouts are not known. 29 year-old Karima Baloch, a psychology student, currently leads the organization. She insists that the organization uses peaceful means by carrying out demonstrations and marches. It aims to raise the political awareness of the people. However, she has also added that any struggle against injustice is legitimate, whether "peaceful or armed." Malik Siraj Akbar, a Harvard-based political analyst, calls it a "very unique organization that does not have any parallels in Pakistan." It is one of the very few organizations that have managed to mobilize women at a social and political level.[6]
The former leader Zahid Baloch was abducted in Quetta in the presence of eye witnesses by men who arrived in SUVs used by the Pakistan Army. Zahid was made to squat on the road and hit on the head several times, after which he was blind folded and taken away. The Politce have refused to register a complaint. The organization has been protesting the abduction ever seince. In April 2014, activist Latif Johar went on a hunger strike. It was called off after 46 days t the behest of human rights activist Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur. BSO Azad called for a strike in April 2014, which was supported by all Baloch nationalist parties. Many towns in Balochistan observed a shut down. The organization has also approached the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights asking him to intervene with the Pakistan government and secure the release of Zahid Baloch.[7][8]
In November 2015, Karima Baloch went to Canada and attended the Amnesty International's `Rights for Rights' event to raise awareness of the world community on the abductions and disappearances in Balochistan.[9] She said that she escaped a Pakistani military attack on the town of Tump and stayed underground for nearly a year before arriving in Toronto. It is reported that she intends to apply for refugee status in Canada.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Alexander Maxwell (2014). The Comparative Approach to National Movements. Routledge. p. 19.
- ^ "No change made in list of banned outfits". The News. 4 September 2015.
- ^ Aruna Gill (2013). The Indus Intercept. HarperCollins Publishers India.
- ^ Ashutosh Misra and Michael E. Clarke (2013). Pakistan's Stability Paradox: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions. Routledge. p. 83.
- ^ "This Woman Is Leading Baloch Students in Their Struggle for Independence From Pakistan". Global Voices Online.
- ^ a b Karlos Zurutuza (27 April 2015) [first published Vice News Spain in 2015]. "A 29-year old woman leads a secular and pro-independence movement which Pakistan labels as "terrorist"". Crisis Balochistan.
- ^ Calls for the Release of Zahid Baloch, International Policy Digest, 27 April 2014.
- ^ a b Tarek Fatah, Refugee arrives in T.O., takes off niqab: 'I knew I was safe', Toronto Sun, 24 June 2016.
- ^ Karima makes surprise appearance in AI event in Canada, Balochistan Times, 5 December 2015.
External links
- Official web site of the BSO azad
- Balochistan National Party website
- Exclusive Interview of Brahmdagh Bugti by Qurat ul ain Siddiqui
- The end of BSO?, Malik Siraj Akbar, January 4, 2009
- Political Terrorism: A New Guide to Actors, Authors, Concepts, Data Bases, Theories, & Literature by Albert J. Jongman, Alex Peter Schmid, ISBN 1-4128-0469-8