Baloch leaders booked for supporting Modi's comments

Islamabad: Cases have been registered against separatist Baloch leaders Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri and Banuk Karima Baloch for supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements on Balochistan, police said on Monday. The five separate cases were registered on the complaints of petitioners Munir Ahmed, Maulana Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Hussain, Ghulam Yaseen Jatak and Muhammad Rahim in the province's Khuzdar area, Dawn online reported. Acting District Police Officer Khuzdar Muhammad Ashraf Jatak said the petitioners claimed that Bugti, Marri and Baloch had "supported" Modi's August 15 remarks. Modi in his Independence Day speech said the people of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' had "thanked him a lot in the past few days". Ahmed alleged that the Baloch leaders had asked Modi to commit aggression against Pakistan. Modi's statement sparked protests across Balochistan, with large numbers of tribesmen taking to the streets in protest in Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Quetta, Chaman and other parts of the province. Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, in a speech last week, slammed Modi's statements, alleging that the Indian government "fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan". Zehri's speech came days after a video showing exiled Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti appreciating "support" given to the Baloch people by Modi began circulating on social media. He also alleged that the Indian government "is deeply involved in sponsoring elements like Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri, Zamran Marri and Allah Nazar". He accused Bugti of "getting funds from Indians", alleging "that's why he supported Modi's statement".