Thread by @KiyyaBaloch

#Thread! For peace in #Balochistan, Islamabad must review FC's role.

In 2021, the conflict in Balochistan entered its 17th year. Islamabad deployed FC in Balochistan in 2004 to counter insurgent activities. The force soon after its deployment became unpopular among the locals

for human rights violations and heavy-handed operations. The Balochistan provincial govt gave police powers to FC in 2013. Since then, FC's traditional role in maintaining border security expanded into controlling crimes and countering terror activities.

More than 550 #ShiaHazaras have been killed in FC's presence since 2012, and thousands of Hazaras have been targeted and wounded in apparent sectarian attacks. Thousands of Baloch activists have disappeared without a trace. More than 1,000 dead bodies of political activists

and suspected armed insurgents were found dumped between 2010 and 2016, according to a report by BBC in 2016. Officials from Ministry of Interior said: "from 2010 to 2015, organized political violence events linked to the insurgency gradually increased, peaking in 2015 with 96

events and 383 total reported fatalities for the year. In 49 suicide attacks in Balochistan between 2003-2018, at least 939 people died, and more than 1820 injured. As insurgents activities increase, FC has become more ruthless and lethal targeting civilians and unarmed activists

In retaliation to armed groups' attacks, the FC had attacked and displaced civilian populations in towns nearby the M8 motorway. FC has been accused of killing unarmed civilians, including five Chechen suspects in Quetta in 2011, 10-year-old Chakar Baloch in Turbat in 2018, and

Hayat Baloch in 2019. These are three high profile cases that happened in metropolitan cities. Dozens of cases go unreported. After the #China-Pakistan Economic Corridor launched, militants also stepped-up indiscriminate attacks on civilians and unarmed labors.

More than 300 laborers working in mega projects have been killed in the last five years, even though they were being provided security by FC. 71 platoons and one wing of the FC maintain law and order in Balochistan. 8 additional wings in north & 1 headquarter are being raised in

south. The Balochistan government pays Rs91 million monthly to the Frontier Corps (FC) for maintaining law and order into seven divisions, which is 2911 million per year. FC collects billions of rupees through smuggling, as said by leader of opposition in the Baloch assembly.

Leader of opposition in the Balochistan assembly says FC collects 10 billion rupees [$60 million] annually from coal miners. 40 FC officials stationed in Kech, Gwadar, and Panjgur districts were suspended last year and 20 are under investigation for financial corruption.

Six officers were investigated in 2016 for financial corruption. It is high time Islamabad had established a high-level civilian review board to oversee FC's role in maintaining security in Balochistan. Islamabad should investigate all reports of extrajudicial executions,

corruption and enforced disappearances. The FC has proved an utter failure. Police must be given new powers to counter-terror activities and to fight crime. FC check-posts should be reduced, and Islamabad must send FC back to the border. #machincident #ShiaHazaraGenocide