ISLAMABAD: Political and tribal leaders from Balochistan held a powerful press conference at the National Press Club on Monday, where they condemned banned terrorist outfits and exposed the alleged nexus between the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and proscribed groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The press conference was addressed by Babar Khajjak from Bolan, Zahid Muhammad Hassani from Khuzdar, and Adnan Saleem from Noshki. The speakers warned that the current security situation in Balochistan is rapidly deteriorating due to the growing influence and collaboration between so-called civil rights groups and militant organizations.
“BLA and BYC are two sides of the same coin,” said Zahid Hassani, whose father and brother were reportedly killed by these banned outfits. He accused BYC of providing ideological cover for terrorist groups and acting as a recruitment nursery for them.
The speakers strongly condemned the use of women in BYC’s campaigns. “Figures like Mah Rang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch know very well that their own fathers were part of these terrorist groups, with innocent blood on their hands,” said Adnan Saleem.
They criticized BYC for consistently organizing protest camps in Islamabad to paint themselves as victims while ignoring the atrocities committed by their alleged affiliates in Balochistan.
“Will BYC ever raise its voice for the 187 innocent Balochs killed by these terrorist outfits in the past six months?” asked Babar Khajjak. “Their double standards must end.”
The leaders presented shocking examples of brutality. They said the BLA murdered a 14-year-old boy after labeling him an informant. In another case, they accused BLA militants of kidnapping and killing Siraj Jatoi, whose mutilated body was later dumped.
They also warned about growing foreign interference in Balochistan. “Even Israeli intelligence agencies are now reportedly using these terrorist groups to push their agendas,” one speaker noted, citing a recent report that exposed attempts by Israeli-sponsored think tanks to propagate false narratives about the region.
“BYC’s narrative around ‘missing persons’ is based on half-truths and deliberate distortions,” said Zahid Hassani. “They never speak out against those who were kidnapped or killed by terrorists.”
The speakers urged the Balochistan government to acknowledge and support the families affected by terrorism. They demanded official meetings with the heirs of martyrs and immediate assistance for civilians injured in militant attacks.
“Just last week, militants killed Babul, an innocent citizen,” they reminded. “The provincial government must ensure treatment for all victims of terrorism.”
In their concluding remarks, the leaders called for a united front against terrorism and asked the state to expose and dismantle networks that exploit civil society platforms to shield violent actors.
