__NOTOC__ Ghulam Mohammed Baloch (

Balochi Balochi, sometimes spelt in various other ways, may refer to: * Balochi language, a language of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan * an adjective for something related to the Baloch people, an ethnic group of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan * an adjecti ...

: غلام محمد بلوچ) was a

Baloch nationalist __NOTOC__ Baloch nationalism ( Baloch: راج دۏستی بلۏچی) asserts that the Baloch people, an ethnic group native to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are a distinct nation, and that their ethnicity overrides religious loyalty. The origins o ...

politician. At the time of his assassination in 2009, he was serving as the president of the

Baloch National Movement The Baloch National Movement is a Baloch nationalist political organization which was led by Ghulam Mohammed Baloch, who served as the organizations's president before his murder in April 2009. History In 1987, the educated Baloch youth created ...

, 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, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

of the newly formed

Baloch National Front The Insurgency in Balochistan is an insurgency or revolt by Baloch nationalism, Baloch nationalists against the governments of Government of Pakistan, Pakistan and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran in the Balochistan, Balochistan ...

. He had earlier served as a

chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, 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 grou ...

of the Baloch Students Organization. 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. 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 Baloch Students Organization who happened to be a teacher at Mand High School. Ghulam Mohammed Baloch joined the Baloch Students Organization in 1974. In 1990, he was elected as its chairman. In 1992, he joined the Balochistan National Movement. In 2004, he founded the

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 (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

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 ISI from baloch's lawyer chamber in Turbat, Balochistan. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found on 9 April 2009, in Murgaap, Turbat.

Baloch Liberation Army The Balochistan Liberation Army ( bal, بلۏچستان آجوییء لشکر; Abbreviation, abbreviated BLA), also known as the Baloch Liberation Army, is a Baloch people, Baloch ethnonationalist militant organization based in Afghanistan. The ...

, 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 Balochistan Baloch Students Organization Baloch people 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