June 1, 2010

Ilyas Baloch and friend arrested on bogus weapons possession charges: family of Ilyas Baloch

Ilyas Baloch is from Kharan and the nephew of veteran Baloch columnist Hafeez Hasan Abadi. Colonial forces are pressuring and dragging family members into the controversy surrounding the Baloch national movement by bringing bogus charges against Ilyas Baloch and friend

Kharan, Occupied Balochistan (source: Daily Tawar): In recent days, family members, relatives and friends of Ilyas Baloch have objected to and protested over the arrest of Illyas Baloch and his friend who were detained by the FC (Frontier Corps) on charges of weapons possession. The charges are described by family members as bogus. Family members have stated that Ilyas Baloch and his friend were unarmed when arrested by the FC (Frontier Corps) and that the arms possession case is a fabrication, designed to justify the arrests by local police and to pressure family members.

According to relatives, Ilyas Baloch is the nephew of veteran Baloch columnist Hafeez Hasan Abadi whose columns have exposed those who are working against Baloch interests. With the arrest of Ilyas Baloch, authorities are trying to suppress the writings of Mr. Hafeez Hasan Abadi and pressure him and family members to drop their support for the Baloch national movement. Supporters of Ilyas Baloch point out that such treacherous games played by the establishment, however, will not succeed.

Relatives also stated that Illyas Baloch had not committed a crime and so should be released and all trumped-up charges dropped.