__NOTOC__ Ghulam Mohammed Baloch ( Balochi: غلام محمد بلوچ) was a Baloch nationalist

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. At the time of his assassination in 2009, he was serving as the president of the Baloch National Movement, as well as the

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

of the newly formed Baloch National Front. He had earlier served as a

chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

of the

Baloch Students Organization The Baloch Students Organization (BSO; or ) was a student organisation that campaigned for the students of Pakistan's Balochistan Province. It was founded as a student movement on 26 November 1967 in Karachi and had remained the largest ethnic ...

. His dead body was discovered on 9 April 2009, five days after being detained by gunmen who were believed to be Pakistani Law enforcement officers. The killing led to riots around

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...

. He had been detained several times in the past by Pakistani intelligence agencies due to his political activities.

Early life and family

Ghulam Mohammed Baloch was born on 1 January 1959, in Soro, Mand, the hometown of classical Balochi poet Mullah Fazul, in district Kech of Balochistan. He was the son of Mohammed Ayub and Khair ul Nissah. He received his early education from Mand High School in his hometown and later graduated from SM College, Karachi, in 1984. Ghulam Mohammed Baloch was married twice. He has a daughter and two sons from his first wife, Najma, and a son and a daughter from his second wife, Salma.

Politics

Ghulam Mohammed Baloch first entered politics during his school years under the patronage of his mentor Fida Ahmad Baloch, a legendary leader of the

who happened to be a teacher at Mand High School. Ghulam Mohammed Baloch joined the

in 1974. In 1990, he was elected as its chairman. In 1992, he joined the Balochistan National Movement. In 2004, he founded the Baloch National Movement saying that he did not see a future for the Baloch within the framework of Pakistan. Although he advocated for an independent Balochistan throughout his political career, he was regarded as the face of the renewed movement for a separate Baloch homeland which started after 2002. For this, he was imprisoned by the Pakistani security forces on a number of occasions. He was first arrested by the

Pakistan army The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...

on 3 December 2006, from Karachi during a public gathering. He was held incommunicado for around a year before being shifted to a jail in Turbat in 2007. He was later released. He was subjected to severe mental and physical torture during his enforced disappearance which impaired his eyesight and listening faculties.

Death

On 3 April 2009, Ghulam Mohammed Baloch along with two other Baloch politicians were kidnapped by Persian (a national language of neighbouring Afghanistan and Iran) speaking gunmen from baloch's lawyer chamber in Turbat, Balochistan. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found on 9 April 2009, in Murgaap, Turbat. Baloch Liberation Army, a nationalist group, alleged that Pakistani security forces are behind the murder of the three politicians. His assassination sparked small protests and riots throughout Balochistan and Karachi.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Baloch, Ghulam Mohammed 2009 deaths Baloch nationalists Pakistani politicians Baloch Students Organization Baloch politicians People murdered in Balochistan, Pakistan Deaths in police custody in Pakistan 1959 births People from Kech District Deaths by firearm in Balochistan, Pakistan

Early life and family

Politics

Death

See also

References

Bibliography