Is Pakistan using COVID-19 situation to eliminate Baloch, Pashtun leaders?

The timing is even crucial specially in the Muslim world where people are observing the holy month of Ramadan.

The crackdown on Pashtun population is taking place in the country in such a scenario when at one end the globe is combating a deadly virus and the Muslims are observing the month of fasting and seeking forgiveness.

It is alleged that Pakistan's secret agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is behind these coordinated attacks, reported ANI news agency.

The Killings:

Shocking the Pashtuns and Baloch, deaths of two people, Arif Wazir, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and missing Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain- were reported last week.

While PTM has been critical of the state's policies in the country's tribal belt, where a massive operation against terrorists was conducted in recent times leading to large-scale displacement and enforced disappearances, the Baloch journalist was known for writing extensively on the suffering of the Baloch people.

Two months after Sajid went missing, the body of a Pakistani journalist, who had fled his nation, was found dead in a river in Sweden last week.

Sajid Hussain was the editor of online magazine Balochistan Times.

He fled from Pakistan in 2012 after getting death threats.

He was granted political asylum in Sweden.

A press freedom charity had suggested Pakistani intelligence was behind Hussain's disappearance in early March, reports BBC.

He was last seen boarding a train to Uppsala, a city 35 miles (56km) north of Stockholm, reported The Guardian.

“His body was found on 23 April in the Fyris river outside Uppsala,” Jonas Eronen, a police spokesman, told the newspaper.

Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader who was vocal about the rights of Pashtun people was killed by unidentified assailants outside his home in Wana, South Waziristan, in Pakistan, media reports said.

Wana Station House Officer Usman Khan confirmed Wazir had passed away after being shifted to Islamabad for treatment, reported Dawn News.

According to Zee News, the attack followed after he was arrested by Pakistani Police on April 17 for an alleged anti-Pakistan speech during his recent visit to Afghanistan. He was released on bail three days ago, it said.

Mohsin Dawar, a lawmaker of Pakistan's Parliament and member of the PTM, accused “state-sponsored terrorists” of carrying out the attack.

The PTM has been demanding an end of the extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions of Pashtun people.

‘‘It is with the heavy heart I report that our comrade Arif Wazir has succumbed to his injuries. Wazir’s father and brother were killed by terrorists years ago. Our struggle against their masters will continue," said Mohin Dawar, a member of Pakistan’s parliament, according to Zee News.

Condemnations:

The killing of both the person earned condemnation from different sections of the society.

Fazel Fazly, Director General, Administrative Office of the Afghanistan President, tweeted: "Devastated to hear about the loss of Arif Wazir. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and #PTM. Despite losing many loved ones in similar fashion Arif Wazir campaigned for non-violence. His advocacy and activism must not go in vain. Rest in peace brother!"

Global civil society alliance, CIVICUS, wrote to Shireen M Mazari, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Human Rights Ministry of Human Rights as quoted as saying by ANI: "We are writing to you to express our serious concerns over the arbitrary arrests of activists from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) over the last week. On 27 January 2020, PTM leader and activist Manzoor Pashteen was arbitrarily arrested in Peshawar for criticising government policies based on a speech he gave on 18 January in Bannu."

Iqbal Rasooli, an entrepreneur in the Zurmat area of Afghanistan , tweeted: "Another unfortunate sad loss caused by #ISI criminals. Arif Wazir #PTM activist lost his life battling serious injuries. ISI continue to target #Pashtun & #Baloch activist demanding freedom. International community & our allies continue to ignore the issue."

The killing of the journalist also triggered condemnation.

Mama Qadeer Baloch, a Baloch human rights activist said: "It is a sad news for us, renowned Journalist Sajid Hussain, the chief editor of @BaluchistanTime  is no more among us. His dead body was discovered from a river in Uppsala, Sweden. The unfortunate death of Sajid left a vacuum in Baloch Society which will take years to be filled."

Erik Halkjaer, head of the Swedish branch of Reporters without Borders (RSF), tweeted, "The family of the disappeared Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain confirms the police in Uppsala have found his body. The police has not yet confirmed officially. https://balochistantimes.com/sajid-hussains-disappearance-family-says-too-early-to-accuse-anyone/… I send my deepest condolences to Sajids family. My thoughts are with them.@RSF_RUG."

Image of Sajid: Balochistan Times