Balochistan and the Mysterious Death of Karima Baloch
Words by Tanya Kaushal
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Balochistan and the Mysterious Death of Karima Baloch by Tanya Kaushal
Lateef Johar Baloch was 15 when he got involved in politics and activism as a student. He belongs to a small village in the southern Pakistani region of Balochistan. To date, his village doesn’t have basic facilities like internet, hospitals, or electricity.
In 2014, he became the spokesperson for the Baloch Students Organization, the largest Baloch student body in Pakistan. They have been advocating for Balochistan to be a sovereign state as it has been under Pakistani administration since 1947.
Pakistanis and people from the Baloch province are often divided in opinion on what independence means for Balochistan. The area is a land of potential economic wealth, with richness in natural resources like marble, coal, and gas, making it a point of interest for the Pakistani government.
Balochistan has a long history of violence and unrest. After the Khan of Kalat (the king of Balochistan) declared Balochistan independent from British rule in 1947, the Pakistani forces attacked the residence of the Khan and arrested him with other Balochi political leaders. The presence of the Pakistani military in the region hasn’t died down since then.