Islamabad: Police in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province say they have registered treason cases against three Baloch separatist figures living in self-imposed exile abroad.
The three are Brahamdagh Bugti — leader of banned outfit Balocistan Republican Army — who lives in Switzerland, Harbiyar Mari — head of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army — who is currentyly in Britain and Karima Baloch, leader of Balochistan students organisation, who has secured asylum in Canada.
They have been booked by police in Khuzdar district of the southwestern province, which is home to a low-scale insurgency involving ethnic Baloch militants, over complaints lodged by several citizens and political activists.
Besides insurgency-related activities, the complainants have cited reported statements by the trio hailing recent remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about human rights situation in Balochistan.
Modi’s remarks had sparked protest rallies in Balochistan and other parts of the country and government leaders said the Indian premier had tried to divert world attention from bloodshed by Indian troops in Indian-held Kashmir to suppress Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle.
Pakistan’s government and authorities in Balochistan accused India of fomenting unrest in Balochistan through its intelligence agency RAW.
In March this year an Indian spy named Kulbhushan Yadav, who authorities said was a serving Indian naval officer working for RAW, was arrested in Balochistan.
A confessional video statement of the arrested man about inciting and aiding subversive activities in Pakistan was shown on television.
