QUETTA: BNM Chairman Dr. Naseem Baloch has said that placing a bounty on senior Baloch leader Mir Safeer Baloch signals that not just one individual, but the entire Baloch political leadership, can be targeted anywhere in the world.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Dr. Naseem Baloch criticized the decision to set a bounty of 150 million rupees on Mir Safeer Baloch, describing it as a dangerous escalation against political activism in Balochistan.
He stated that Mir Safeer Baloch, a senior leader of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and former Secretary General of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO), has long been engaged in what he termed a consistent struggle for democratic politics, national rights, and representing the voice of the people in Balochistan.
According to Dr. Naseem Baloch, placing a bounty on a political leader sends a message that democratic political struggle is being criminalized. He added that several other Baloch political figures have also been included in the same list, which, in his view, reflects shrinking democratic space in the region.
He further said that although Mir Safeer Baloch survived past instances of repression, the announcement of a bounty suggests that Baloch political leaders could be targeted beyond national borders. He described the move as not merely a threat to one person but as a broader warning to the entire Baloch political leadership.
Dr. Naseem Baloch also referred to previous incidents involving Baloch activists abroad, including the cases of Karima Baloch in Canada and Sajid Hussain Baloch in Sweden. He cautioned that continued silence from the international community could create serious risks not only for the Baloch people but also for broader regional and global stability.
He concluded by stating that political movements cannot be silenced through threats or bounty announcements, adding that attempts to suppress political voices have historically failed.
