image sourceCourtesy Gulzar Dost and Abid Mir
- author, Riaz Sohail and Muhammad Kazim
- position, BBC Urdu
“The allegation of being associated with an armed organization is not only baseless, but it is like playing with the career of a public servant and the life of a peaceful citizen. Since this allegation, my family, wife, children, parents are under severe mental pressure. are victims of.’
This is to say that Abid Mir whose name has been included in the Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
After the sit-in of the Baloch Solidarity Committee in Gwadar, the Balochistan government has added dozens of people to the Fourth Schedule under the Terrorism Act, including student leaders, social activists and journalists.
According to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, if an intelligence agency informs the provincial government about a person who has direct or indirect affiliation with a banned organization, he is placed on a watch list known as the Fourth Schedule.
Abid Mir is the author of dozens of books including stories and translations. Apart from this, he also publishes the semi-monthly magazine Mehr Nama and is a lecturer on Urdu subject.
He told BBC that he had seen the notification of inclusion in the fourth schedule on social media, he had not received it personally and no government agency had contacted him about it.
He says that ‘I keep writing literary and social articles on social media, but I have never written anything that can be included in the category of anti-nationalism, I have always spoken within the scope of the constitution and law.’
Mahring Baloch, head of the Baloch Solidarity Committee, told the BBC that “this (list) includes the names of many of our workers and supporters.” The problem is that this list has not yet been released publicly so it could be used by anyone, whether traveling or involved in any political activity, or to intimidate them. Like many professors’ names are also included in this and they are being harassed that you are involved in the activities of the Baloch Solidarity Committee and are supporting them.
He said that this is the attitude which has never changed on the part of the state towards Balochistan. By the way the people of Balochistan are now participating in political activities, they are being harassed to work for the state and not be part of any political activity.
image sourceGetty Images
“They are detained in the district in which they are.”
Abid Mir is doing his PhD from Namal University Islamabad and was suddenly transferred to Dera Bugti. He said that he was on study leave till December 2024 and in principle he cannot be transferred during that time. There is only one class of intermediate?’
On the other hand, Gulzar Dost’s name has also been included in the Fourth Schedule. Along with being active in Turbat regarding forced disappearances and other local issues, he also participated in the sit-in of the Baloch Unity Committee in Islamabad and earlier he himself has marched on foot from Turbat to Quetta and was supported by the government. He is associated with the banned organization Baloch Liberation Front.
Gulzar Dost says that ‘because of being named in the fourth schedule, they are detained in the district in which they are. Movement outside the district is restricted. Apart from this, one has to attend or report to the police station from time to time.
‘Property papers, houses and businesses have to be accounted for. Bank account and national identity card along with family and own passport are also checked.
They say that it bans parks, public gathering places and any activity to keep people and gatherings away.
According to him, ‘My name has been linked with the resistance organization, while I have no connection with the resistance organizations, I am only a political and social worker.’
According to the notification issued by the Government of Balochistan, the suspect will have to give a bond to the concerned Deputy Commissioner and submit the passport to the concerned police station. To leave your place of residence or to go somewhere and meet someone, you have to inform the police station in advance and take permission.’
In addition, the government can confiscate the cash or property of the declared person in whole or in part.
Apart from this, the CTD department can also investigate the assets of other members of the family to see if they were not acquired through terrorist activities.
BBC Urdu has several such notifications in which the name of the concerned person is written but his affiliation with any proscribed party is not revealed, only the word ‘prohibited party’ is written. According to the notification, the person will be under surveillance for three years and the decision can be appealed to the government.
Sindh High Court lawyer Advocate Farooq Ahmed says that “According to the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, if a secret agency informs the provincial government about a person who has direct or indirect affiliation with a terrorist organization, then he is included in a list.” is known as the Fourth Schedule.’
image sourceGetty Images
‘This action of the government is very wrong and the results will not be good’
Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rand told the BBC that the government and the district administration have the legal power to include any person’s name in the Fourth Schedule on the report of law enforcement agencies. ‘
He did not clarify the number of persons whose names have been included in the Fourth Schedule after July 22. However, he said that the figures given by some political leaders on the Fourth Schedule issue are not correct. Even with new or old names, the number is not as much as the claims are being made.
On the other hand, a senior official of the provincial interior ministry, on the condition of anonymity, said that since Raji Machi i.e. national gathering in Gwadar, around 300 people from different districts of Balochistan have been included in the Fourth Schedule.
According to the official, out of the people whose names have been included in the Fourth Schedule, about 130 people belong to Quetta, while the rest belong to other Baloch populated districts.
He said that the names of these people have not been included by the Home Department by themselves, but there are district intelligence committees in each district, on the recommendation of which the Home Department has included the names of these people in the Fourth Schedule.
Former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch claims that the name of 3,000 people in the province has been included in the Fourth Schedule.
Speaking in the provincial assembly, he said that professors, government employees, student leaders and journalists have been included in the fourth schedule and he knows many such people who are patriotic. Why are innocent people being handed over to the BLA?’
Provincial Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar replied to him that ‘these people are facilitators and sympathizers of non-state elements, then why leave them like this, according to them, they are taking the salary of the government and they are anti-state and supporting these elements. are.’
Speaking to BBC, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said that ‘the people whose names have been included in the Fourth Schedule are responsible citizens. Among them are officers, teachers and political leaders and activists.
Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said that the name of BSO Pujaar Chairman Bohir Saleh Baloch and a teacher Abid Mir have also been included.
‘This action of the government is very wrong and the results will not be good in any way’
image sourceBYC
“We didn’t go to the CTD officials on which we received a call from the Saryab police station.”
The names of three officials including the Chairman of Baloch Students Organization have been included in the Fourth Schedule.
BSO Chairman Shakoor Baloch said that the names of the people included in his organization include Balach Qadir Baloch and Samand Baloch.
Shakoor Baloch said that he did not have any list in this regard but he received a call from CTD asking him to appear.
“We didn’t go to the CTD officers after which we got a call from the Saryab police asking us to appear,” he says.
“We will go to the police and see what they will ask us,” said Shakoor Baloch.
Meanwhile, Chairman Baloch Students Organization Balach Qadir also condemned this move and told BBC that “It seems that the government wants to stop the political process in Balochistan, but the students and political workers of Balochistan are not giving up their struggle.” will.’
He further said that the Balochistan government has added the names of BSO Central Secretary General Samand Baloch, Central Information Secretary Shakur Baloch and hundreds of other Baloch political workers to the Fourth Schedule.
“Believing in the constitution and democracy, we have always raised our voices for human rights and justice, which is our constitutional right. It is not only absurd to include us in the Fourth Schedule under a false narrative by making serious allegations on the part of the government, but it also shows that the doors of peaceful political struggle in Balochistan are being closed and political activists are being pushed. Such unconstitutional tactics cannot suppress our peaceful struggle.’
