ISLAMABAD: Expatriate Pakistanis living in Moscow, especially the Baloch community, Saturday celebrated ‘Pakistan Unity Day’ under the slogan ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall’.
Dr Jumma Khan Marri, Baloch sub-nationalist leader, intellectual and one of the senior political activists attended the event and announced his separation along with his supporters from the so-called Baloch Independence Movement, according to a statement received here.
It is important to mention that Dr Jumma Khan Marri is on self-exile in Moscow for the last two decades. He is the son of Baloch leader Mir Hazar Khan Marri, head of Bajrani Marri tribe, Balochistan chapter. Dr Jumma Khan Marri possesses huge following among Baloch Diaspora residing all across the world.
During his emotional and highly charged speech, he announced disassociation along with his supporters from the movement besides launching an organisation with the name of ‘Overseas Pakistani Baloch Community’ to counter anti-Balochistan movements abroad. He said the new organisation would confront and expose the evil designs of what he called Indian-sponsored disgruntled elements like Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri at all forums abroad.
Besides, he said, the organisation would make efforts to bring back all ‘misguided and innocent’ Baloch residing abroad on political asylum in the mainstream by resolving problems through peaceful dialogue.
Dr Jumma extended invitation to Khan of Kalat for joining and supporting the organisation. He said integrity of Baloch nation was seriously damaged when Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri applied for Indian nationality and laid flowers on Gandhi’s statue in Geneva.
Defection of Dr Jumma Khan Marri from anti-Pakistan elements and raising of voice by Pakistani Baloch community against the disgruntled leadership and that too from the Russian Federation is being seen as a big blow to the so-called ‘Baloch Independence Movement’.
Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2018.
