Baloch leaders booked: JKNPP calls on Centre to slap sedition charges against separatists

Jammu: Calling on the Centre to respond to Pakistan in kind for booking Baloch leaders for siding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) asserted that all anti-national elements, including the separatists in the Valley, must be booked on charges of sedition.

"The Baloch leaders who have been fighting for the cause of the people regarding the denial of the basic rights of Balochistan, thanked the Prime Minister for raking up their cause and projecting the sufferings of the people of Balochistan. And Pakistan, taking an extreme step of booking these people for sedition charges, this is ridiculous," JKNPP leader Harsh Dev Singh told ANI here.

Emphasising that this clearly shows the frustration of Pakistan, which is facing lots of pressure from within the country, he further said that Pakistan was booking only those people for sedition who are thanking PM Modi.

"The separatists and the anti-nationals who have been persistently waging war against India, who have launched the India-hate campaign in Kashmir, are propagating in favour of Pakistan. No action has been taken against these people," Singh said.

He called on the Centre to ensure to all those who have "waged a war against India" are booked under sedition.

Five cases have been registered against Baloch leaders-in-exile in Balochistan`s Khuzdar area for allegedly backing PM Modi`s remarks on the atrocities in Pakistan`s Balochistan province.The cases were registered against Baloch Republican Party`s (BRP) Brahamdagh Bugti, Baloch liberation leader Harbiyar Marri and Baloch Students Organisation chairperson Karima Baloch.

The complaints were filed by Munir Ahmed, Maulana Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Hussain, Ghulam Yaseen Jatak and Muhammad Rahim at five police stations in Balochistan`s Khuzdar area, reports the Dawn.Acting District Police Officer Khuzdar Muhammad Ashraf Jatak said the petitioners claimed that Bugti, Marri and Karima Baloch had `supported` PM Modi`s August 15 speech.

The Baloch leaders-in-exile were booked under Sections 120, 121, 123 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code which refer to "concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment", "waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan", "concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war", and "assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty".

PM Modi, in his Independence Day address, had thanked the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the goodwill they have shown towards him.

He had in an all-party meeting on Kashmir said the "time has come that Pakistan shall have to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against the people in Balochistan and PoK".

His statement about atrocities in Balochistan has hit a nerve with Pakistan, which has now voiced that it would raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Last week, Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri slammed the Indian Premier`s remarks days after Baloch leader Bugti appreciated `support` given to the Baloch people.