Quetta: Former Secretary General of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Rahim Advocate Baloch, has drawn a powerful comparison between the Baloch national struggle and the teachings of Imam Hussain (A.S.), emphasizing that Ashura is not merely a day of mourning, but a reminder of resistance against tyranny and the unwavering pursuit of truth and justice.
In a statement released on the occasion of Ashura, Rahim Baloch said, “Ashura teaches us to rise and speak out against oppression and injustice, regardless of how powerful the oppressor is even if they share your faith, sect, or background. The real message is standing firm for truth.”
He likened the sacrifices made by the Baloch nation in their resistance against what he described as Pakistan’s occupation, oppression, genocide, and exploitation, to the legacy of Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) stand against Yazid. “The Baloch people’s struggle for national freedom and the price they are paying is a reflection of the path shown by Imam Hussain,” he said.
Rahim Advocate further accused the Pakistani state, its military, intelligence agencies, and institutions of committing atrocities against the Baloch people, saying, “Their actions mirror the brutality of Yazid and his army.”
He also labeled Pakistan as a “so-called Islamic state,” comparing it to what he described as Yazid’s illegitimate caliphate. “The Pakistani military, its intelligence agencies, and their operatives are as tyrannical as Yazid’s forces were, and those who support Pakistan in its actions against the Baloch are no different from the cowardly and opportunistic subjects of Yazid,” he stated.
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions and conflict in Balochistan, where nationalist groups have long accused the Pakistani state of systemic repression and human rights abuses a charge the state routinely denies.
