ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the Balochistan Shuhada Forum (BSF) have demanded military courts in Balochistan so that terrorists “who were roaming freely in the province” could be taken to task.

In a press conference on Sunday, BSF leaders, including former caretaker Balochistan minister Nawabzada Jamal Raisani, also urged the caretaker government to ensure a secure environment in the province to prevent the killings of innocent Baloch people by banned outfits like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Force (BLF) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA).

They demanded the Supreme Court to withdraw its decision, which had declared unconstitutional the military trials of civilians.

The leaders of the group, which claims to empower the victims of terrorism, said thousands, not only from Balochistan but from Punjab and other areas, have been killed by the banned terrorist organisations.

The BSF leaders said if the government failed to provide security to the people of Balochistan, they would have no option but to take up arms against the terrorists.

They claimed the governments of India and Israel were “funding terrorist organisations in Balochistan”.

The BSF is also holding a protest in the federal capital, where some other Baloch activists have set up a separate camp demanding the recovery of missing persons.

Responding to a question, Mr Raisani said his group also supported the call for the recovery of missing persons but questioned if the protesters who are demanding this would condemn the banned organisations like BLA, BLF and BRA.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2024