KARACHI: The Baloch National Front (BNF) has condemned the recent killing of its leader Dr Abdul Mannan Baloch and said that his death was aimed at silencing the Baloch voice for their rights.

Three women members of the BNF held a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday on the killing of Dr Mannan in Mastung three days ago.

Karima Baloch, BNF chairperson now living in Canada, addressed the press conference by phone.

Referring to the recent wave of killings in Balochistan, she said: “The death of Dr Mannan proves that the state does not want to listen to anyone speaking about the rights of the Baloch.”

She alleged that some of shopkeepers who wanted to close their shops in Turbat and Kharan during a strike against Dr Mannan’s killing were ‘forced by security forces’ to keep the shops open.

Karima Baloch accused the media of ‘siding with the state’ and “remaining quiet over atrocities being committed in the province’.

As the phone line dropped, BNF member Hoor Jan spoke on other issues which could not be taken up by her leader.

Ms Hoor Jan warned that any Chinese investment in the ‘war-torn’ Balochistan would meet a fierce resistance to be launched in a democratic manner.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2016