Balochistan Timeline - 2012

Date

Incidents

January 1

Four security personnel were killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion in Surali area, some10 kilometres from Sui town of Dera Bugti District.

One person was killed and his brother was injured when three Iranian border guards after allegedly crossing the border shot at a car at Mazan Sar Mashkail area in Washuk District.

At Least 10 people were injured in a hand grenade attack in a shop on Joint Road in Quetta.

A local trader, identified as Muhammad Akbar Mulazai, was abducted in Surab township of Kalat District.

Two men were shot dead in Goht Shadi Pert area, in the limits of Barija Levies Thana of Jhal Magsi District. The victims were identified as Sitham Khan and Zulfiqar Ali.

The bullet-riddled body of a missing trader identified as Wazir Khan Marri was found dumped near Eastern Bypass, a suburb of Quetta. Wazir Khan, who operated a shop in the Hazarganji area of Quetta, was abducted on an unspecified date in September 2011.

At least five children were injured in a land mine explosion in the Sui area of Dera Bugti District. According to sources, the children were going to school when they hit the land mine.

Two security personnel, identified as Hawaldar Hazrat Umer and Sepoy Shukat Ali, were injured in a land mine explosion in Tuba Nukani area of Dera Bugti District.

At least four people including a medical practitioner and his brother were abducted from Chatar area of Naseerabad District on the night of December 31. The victims were identified as Muhammad Ayub Lahsari and his brother Mehol Lahsari, who were travelling from Chatar to Dera Allah Yar in Jaffarabad District.

Unidentified militants blew up an 8-inch diameter gas pipeline in Pirkoh area of Dera Bugti District.

Iran shut its border with Pakistan as Pakistan authorities took three Iranians in to custody over alleged cross-border attack of January 1 that killed one Pakistani citizen in Washuk District.

Unidentified militants blew up an eight-inch-diameter gas pipeline in Loti Gas Field area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan.

Five TTP militants were killed and 13 others arrested in a clash with the Frontier FC troops in Murgha Kibzai area of Zhob District of Balochistan. A FC spokesman said SF received information about the presence of TTP militants in Murgha Kibzai area and dispatched troops there.

One ASI, Ghulam Raza Bangash, was shot dead by unidentified militants in Nawan Killi area of Quetta. It is believed to be a sectarian attack.

One unidentified security personnel was killed and two others injured in an accidental landmine explosion in Maro area of Dera Bugti District.

Elsewhere in the District, unidentified militants blew up the gas pipeline in Pirkoh area disrupting the gas supply from well Numbers 12 and 21.

Unidentified militants abducted a British official of the ICRC, identified as Doctor Khalil Ahmed Dale, from Chaman Housing Society in Quetta. According to details, Ahmed Dale, a Yemen born British national, was on his way to the office when armed militants intercepted his vehicle and abducted him at gunpoint to an unknown location, leaving his driver behind.

A man, identified as Shaban, was killed and his friend Abid Khan sustained injuries in a landmine explosion in Jan Beri area of Dera Bugti District.

Carrying out raids in different areas, Police arrested up to 50 suspects for questioning in connection to the January 5, 2011 abduction of Khalil Ahmed Dale, a British employee of ICRC from Quetta.

LEAs arrested 27 illegal Afghan nationals under foreign Act from Mian Ghundi area in Quetta. According to official sources, Afghan nationals were heading towards Panjgur District in a vehicle when they were arrested on Main Ghundi check post.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif demanded an immediate end to military operations in Balochistan and said that an All Parties Conference will be convened soon in Islamabad to discuss the situation in the province and to find ways of resolving the crisis the seed of which had been sown by the regime of Pervez Musharraf.

PPP MNA Afzal Nadeem Chan said that the ISI and the MI were active in Balochistan while the civilian government had no say in the provincial affairs. Chan said that everyone knew it well that who was in control of the Balochistan affairs, but no one dare say it in open.

Unidentified militants blew up an 18-inch diameter gas pipeline in Ghot Jani Khan area under Malagzad Police Station of Jaffarabad District in Balochistan. The gas supply was disconnected from the main pipeline that feeds Sindh.

The members of the National Assembly's special all-party committee on law and order will visit Quetta on January 10 to receive a briefing from senior officials of the provincial administration and law-enforcement agencies on the issue of sectarian killings in Balochistan.

CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, expressing concern over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, observed that the number of missing persons in the province was increasing day by day. He said that uncertainty prevailed in the province as bullet-riddled bodies were found every day. The Chief Justice observed that the personnel of the Law Enforcement Agencies were also being targeted in such incidents. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said that if the authorities had closed their eyes over the situation, then the court would be compelled to interfere in the matter.

At least 14 of FC personnel, including two junior commissioned officers, were killed in an ambush in the Wakai area near Nawano check post in Turbat city of Turbat District. BLF claimed responsibility for the attack.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik constituted a task force for early implementation of matters regarding Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package. The Interior Secretary will head the task force, while additional secretaries of concerned ministries would be its members.

The Minister said that it was decided that the concerned ministries would prepare their suggestions to evolve a system for a more expeditious and result-oriented mechanism for implementation of the AHBP. Rehman Malik said that the Coast Guards and Frontier Constabulary would not establish any check post on RCD or Bolan Highway.

US Consul General William Martin announced USD 10 million in aid on for rehabilitation and provision of educational and health facilities in the Duregi area of Lasbela District. Martin announced the multi-million dollar aid package on behalf of the US Government, while visiting a girl's primary school in Duregi.

SFs launched a search operation in Buleda tehsil of Turbat District to arrest the militants involved in the January 11, 2012 killing of 14 FC personnel in an ambush.

Two bullet-riddled bodies were found in Yak Mach and Shakar Aab areas of Chagai District.

Unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at the residence of a Government employee, identified as Saleem Khokar, in Killi Ibraimzai area on Brewery Road in Quetta.

The ISPR, Quetta Cantonment, strongly refuted reports about a military operation in Balochistan. An ISPR spokesman said that news stories published or aired by a section of media about a military operation in Balochistan were totally baseless and a false propaganda against the Pakistan Army.

Chattar SHO Gulam Haider Manjo escaped a remote-controlled blast in Naseerabad District. Chattar DSP Deedar Hussain Magsi said that unidentified militants had planted explosives along the roadside to target the Police.

Three Iranian security personnel booked for killing a Pakistani national, Saeed, and injuring another, Ismail Gul Reki, in Mashkel tehsil of Washuk District on December 31, 2011, were acquitted by the Sessions Judge of Kharan after successful negotiations between the victims' family and the accused.

In a sectarian killing incident, a security guard, identified as Musa Khan, was shot dead by unidentified armed militants in Jam colony Imambargah in Quetta.

Four members of a family hailing from Punjab province were abducted from Loralai area in Barkan District by unidentified armed militants, who intercepted their vehicle Chori Bridge while they were on their way to Quetta.

The US urged Pakistan to "really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes the Balochistan issue forward". "The US is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan, especially targeted killings, disappearances and other human rights abuses," said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.

At least 10 militants were killed in an armed clash with SFs in the Bahlol area of Kohlu District. Official sources said that militants attacked personnel of the FC in an area close to Chamalang when they were setting up a check-post. The FC retaliated, killing 10 militants.

The dead body of a man, identified as Wazir Khan Marri (35), was recovered from Liari tehsil of Lasbela District.

Police found an unidentified dead body dumped in a gunny bag in Chetkhan area of Panjgur District.

The main pipeline supplying gas to Sindh was blown up in the Gopang area of Pat Feeder in Sui tehsil of Dera Bugti District. The spokesman of Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Sarbaz Baloch calling media from an unspecified location claimed responsibility for the blast.

Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of slain Akbar clan chieftain and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Akbar Bugti, announced head money for former Army dictator and President Pervez Musharraf. Akbar Bugti, along with his comrades, was killed on his way from the Bugti Hills to Marri Hills in a military operation in Kohlu District of Balochistan on August 26, 2006. The operation was allegedly ordered by Musharraf.

As many as 14,362 people, including 150 women, have "disappeared" in Balochistan since 2001 and 370 mutilated bodies have been found in different parts of the province so far, Qadeer Baloch, Vice President of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons said.

Speaking at a News Conference on International Human Rights Day at the KPC, HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf had said the establishment saw the problem of Balochistan as a "security issue" but it would not be fair to say it wanted to get rid of Balochistan.

The Supreme Court rejected a report filed by the Balochistan Chief Secretary on the security situation in the province. The court said the report was "not satisfactory" because no steps had been taken to improve the security situation.

A bullet-riddled body of a man, identified as Munir Ahmed, was found near Sorap Dam area of Panjgur District. Ahmad had been missing for the last six days.

Another dead body that was found on January 16 from Chetkhan area of the same District was identified as that of Muhammad Azeem Sasoli, a resident of Surab area of Kalat District.

Unknown assailants again blew up an 18 inch diameter high pressure gas pipeline in Pat Feeder in Sui area of Dera Bugti District, suspending the gas supply to Quetta and other Districts. BRA reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Unknown armed militants shot dead a youth, identified as Sardar Muhammad, at Killi Kashmirabad area near Sariab Police Station in Quetta.

An explosion occurred near the building of the PPL in Sui area of Dera Bugti District causing no damage.

FC IG Ubaidullah Khan Khattak said that incidents of abductions in Balochistan had increased at an alarming rate and had become a source of generating funds for militants. Addressing reporters at FC headquarters in Quetta, Ubaidullah Khan said that Balochistan witnessed a decline in attacks on economic installations like rocket attacks and bomb blasts particularly targeting gas pipelines, power pylons, and railway tracks.

Responding to a query about the links between TTP and Baloch militants, he said there is no link between the two. He said foreign elements were involved in destabilizing Balochistan in order to advance their vested interests using local people as tools.

Unidentified militants blew up a 16-inch diameter gas pipeline near Pir Koh area in Dera Bugti District of Balochistan.

One ASI, identified as Habibullah, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Zarghoonabad area of Quetta.

A main gas pipeline was blown up in Mullguzar area of Jaffarabad District disrupting the gas supply to several areas in Sindh. BRA claimed responsibility for the attack.

SFs recovered and deactivated an explosive device planted by unidentified militants outside the Pakistan Petroleum Limited office in Sui area of Dera Bugti District.

The FC paramilitary troops impounded 12 containers of the of the Afghan Transit Trade near the Chaman border in Qilla Abdullah District carrying fuel for the NATO-led forces stationed in Afghanistan. The drivers were taken into custody for questioning.

A FC team arrested four suspect persons and recovered a large quantity of arms from Gulistan area in Qila Abdullah District of Balochistan.

Tehran closed Zero Point, the trade gate between Pakistan and Iran, in the bordering town of Taftan in Chagai District of Balochistan province.

LEAs neutralised a potential terrorism bid by defusing an anti-tank landmine in Shambey area near Gwadar Town in Gwadar District. Local Police said unidentified militants had planted the landmine along the road to target vehicles traveling by which was detected and defused by a team of LEAs.

An Inspector of the FIA, Walayat Hussain, Quetta television artiste Abid Hussain Nazish and Mohammad Anwar Hussain, an accounts officer at the Balochistan Accountant General's Office, were shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in a sectarian attack in Quetta.

A man was killed and another sustained injuries in an incident of firing in Chattar area of Naseerabad District.

Police recovered a bullet-riddled body dumped in the desert area of Hub town in Lasbela District. Later, the deceased was identified as Muhammad Imran.

Senior journalists during a conference held at the Quetta press club expressed that Balochistan is the second most dangerous place after Afghanistan for journalists as they are under serious threats to their lives.

Militants killed six soldiers, including a non-commissioned officer, in an attack on a check post of the FC at Kachhi canal area in Dera Bugti District. BRA claimed responsibility for the attack and said its men had taken away an FC man, along with weapons that included four G-3 rifles, one light machine gun and other small weapons. Calling from an unknown place, BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch claimed that the outfit had killed 10 personnel and taken away an FC man alive.

Iranian SFs killed eight traders and injured others on Zaran hills, an area between Chabahar District of Iran and Gwadar District of Balochistan. Six cattle traders from the Pakistani side of Balochistan were returning home after delivering cows to their customers in Iranian Balochistan when they were chased and fired upon by Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guards of Iran). All six died on the spot. Four other travellers from Bahu Kalat and Dashtiyari sub-districts of Iran also came under fire. Two of them were killed while as many injured in the attack.

A security official was killed and another injured when militants opened fire on them near Uch gas field, a boarding area between Jaffarabad District and Dera Bugti District of Balochistan.

The Supreme Court directed the ISI and the Military Intelligence to submit reports on senseless and indiscriminate killings in Balochistan. The order was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez during the hearing of a petition about the breakdown of law and order in the province. It was filed by Hadi Shakeel, former President of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association. The petitioner alleged that the Federal and Provincial Governments had failed to protect the life and property of the people of Balochistan.

Under Article 9 of the Constitution (security of person), it was the prime duty of the Provincial as well as the Federal Governments to protect the life and property of people, the order said, deploring the Law-Enforcement Agencies seemed to be helpless.

Three tribal volunteers including a 'commander' of a pro-government peace lashkar were killed when unidentified armed militants attacked their check post in Lop area of the Sui tehsil of Dera Bugti District. A spokesman of BRA, Sarbaz Baloch, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Two unidentified bullet-riddled dead bodies of a woman and a man were found in Dera Bugti District.