World

Pakistan: late journalist's keep tries to censor free speech

by Ahmar Mustikhan | August 3, 2010 at 11:50 am

709 views | 0 Recommendations | 6 comments

KARACHI -- A freelance writer and alleged keep of a late sports journalist tried to stop free speech at a conference on Baloch missing persons at the Karachi Press Club.

Nargis Khanum could not tolerate the truth being told about Balochistan's forced occupation by Pakistan.

Baloch historian Prof. Saba Dashtiyari was narrating the details when Khanum went up to the stage to strike him.

There are more than 1,000 involuntariy and enforced disappearances, locally called missing persons, in Balochistan. These people have been abducted by the Military Intelligence and its sister agency the infamous Inter-Services Intelligence for demanding independence of their homeland.

Khanum, who is originally from India and who came to Karachi in the 1960s, was once associated with The Star evening tabloid in Karachi.

After great difficulty the organizers succeeded in prevailing upon Khanum to allow the meeting to progress.

"I have the right to expression," Dashtiyari insisted. "If you believe in reality, if you believe in truth."

Khanum calls herself a supporter of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, whose chief Altaf Hussain is on record of calling the partition of the Indian subcontinent one of the worst tragedies in human history.

Millions of immigrants from India got property and power in Pakistan's Sind province and for this reason call Pakistan Mumlikkat-i-Khudad or "a state given by God."

Khanum was allegedly a concubine of reknowned sports journalist the late Ali Kabir, 73, who died in October 2006.

The late Kabir used to work for the pro-establishment Dawn newspaper, whose spineless Memon owners called Haroons prospered under different martial law regimes. Both Dawn and The Star belong to the same group and are published from Haroon House.

Pakistan's infamous Inter Services Intelligence is known for using unscrupulous elements to silence the voice of dissent.

Texas-sized Balochistan is in the throes of an independence struggle. It was forcibly occupied by Pakistan on March 27, 1948.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

nazeer ahmed baloch (not verified)

at 22:55 on August 3rd, 2010

well i attended that seminar who is organize by BUC at karachi press club . Mr prof Saba dashtiyari well said about missing baloch person . he said the pakistani leftist religious parties and group journalist lawyars they are not supporting baloch missing person specially balochistan reisiting movement or freedom movement which is going fastly . we know very well about pakistani media press black out any news which is related from balochistan liberation movement . they are pro establishment pro pakistani state . they will never favour of balochistan and liberation movment . i condemn that ms khanum's act who was attempt while prof saba dashtiyaari speeched .

H baloch (not verified)

at 00:30 on August 4th, 2010

This event shows that not only Pakistani Army is against Baloch people but Pakistani Journalist also dont like truth from Baloch very much, these kind of poeple are very confussed thats why they dont face the truth. This shows that Baloch struggle is going right direction and Pakistanis know it very well, Baloch people need their own media and live broadcast to let world know and hear their voices. As far as our legend Saba dashtiyari is concerned i will say this quote from James Weldon Johnson " Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,ring with the harmonies of liberty.Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies;Let it resound loud as the rolling sea."

Bugti Baloch (not verified)

at 04:52 on August 4th, 2010

Ms Khanum how she dare to Stop a Baloch for speech, they are Muhajirs and they don't have any right to live on Baloch Land, Karachi was land of Baloch's but unfortunately the Muhajirs came and they spread like rabbits. Baloch struggle is now going to right direction thats why all media is against our cause. Saba Dashtiyari is our legend we give him red salutes and lots regards.

DR.KAHOOR BALOCH KHAN (not verified)

at 15:10 on August 4th, 2010

We do not care how the Pakistani media and the migrants react about our cause as, the will of the people of Balochistan is going to accomplish.The stance of Khanum or her Boss the Jackal Althaf Hussain and their GHQ can not stop the independence movement of Balochistan. I hope the nationalism of Sindh will soon wake up from the Rabbit sleeping to save the Sindh from these inferior of MQM and the heritage of Ranjeet Singh.

Lashkari (not verified)

at 05:37 on August 5th, 2010

It's good to see the above post from Dr Kahoor Khan, if he is the one I am thinking, speaking for the Baloch cause again. It seems we have overcome the age in which we live in silence and fear. In the face of repression we are gradually finding our voices.