Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Taimur Rahman, nephew of my friend Chakar Khan, broke the news: “Asad chachu has passed away. I thought you should know. Love, Taimur.” Stunned, I recalled October 29, 1971 when I first met Chakar Khan in the Marri Hills. I had reached camp late in the evening with Batay Khan Marri, now deceased, and Shafi […]

I never thought that Sindh, the land of the legendary Makhdoom Bilawal who preferred pulverisation by the Arghun ruler’s oil seed grinder to submission in 1523 AD (929 AH); where on February 17, 1843 in Miani, 6,000 plus martys, including Mir Jan Mohammad Talpur who was buried there as his wounds made shifting impossible, would […]

The army through General Kayani has stated its position on the Balochistan issue in a one-liner that says, “Army fully supports any political process as long as it is within the Constitution.” This was in response to the Balochistan National Party President Akhtar Mengal’s recent moves and statements during his visit and the reactions to […]

Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s unexpected capitulation and appearance before the Supreme Court (SC) has pleased a few but angered a majority of the Baloch. He has climbed down from his position of demanding an independent Balochistan. In the Daily Times of May 8, 2009, its then Quetta correspondent Malik Siraj Akbar reported Akhtar Mengal’s speech from […]

The delegation of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) composed of Olivier de Frouville, chairperson, and Osman El-Hajjé, on conclusion of its ten-day official visit gave its views in a brief report. They poignantly underlined the plight of the missing persons in Balochistan and other places with, “Most of the […]

The 10-day visit of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), comprising Olivier de Frouville, Osman El Hajjé and others, to observe the state of human rights, especially in relation to the ‘enforced disappearances’ primarily blighting Balochistan and to a lesser extent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, has evoked indignation and outrage in […]

Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s unexpected capitulation and appearance before the Supreme Court (SC) has pleased a few but angered a majority of the Baloch. He has climbed down from his position of demanding an independent Balochistan. In the Daily Times of May 8, 2009, its then Quetta correspondent Malik Siraj Akbar reported Akhtar Mengal’s speech from […]

In a world where material interests seem to dominate the relationships between individuals, groups and countries, one is pleasantly surprised when someone decides to reject those norms and charts the course he thinks is more in keeping with his worldview and the norms that should prevail and dominate. Such a path, though honourable, comes at […]

A society is identified and judged by the values and ideals it relates to through its actions and observance. Ironically, here Valentine’s Day is more fervently observed and celebrated than the International Day of Disappeared Persons or the International Day against Torture. The state for sure and a majority of the people probably do not […]

Gwadar seems to be an exceptionally strong magnet attracting so many different forces towards it. China seems to have the most affinity and fascination for it. It is a new contender to superpower status and does not let an opportunity go by to spread its footprint however it can. Here it has found a willing […]