New Delhi: In 2013, Pakistani journalist Mohammed Hanif wrote a book on the enforced disappearance of Baloch people titled The Baloch Who Is Not Missing Anymore and Others Who Are. The same year, an event raising awareness on the issue was cancelled due to intelligence services warnings. The event was then held at the Karachi Grammar, a cafe-bookshop, founded by human rights activist Sabeen Mahmud. Minutes after the event ended, Mahmud was shot dead at point-blank range.
Hanif got the message but never stopped talking about Balochistan. In 2018, he won Pakistan’s third-highest civilian honour, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
Now, Hanif has returned the award as a protest against the violence inflicted upon Baloch marchers.
“In protest, returning my Sitara-e-Imtiaz, given to me by a state that continues to abduct and torture Baloch citizens. Journalists of my generation have seen @SammiBaluch and @MahrangBaloch_ grow up in protest camps. Ashamed to witness a new generation being denied basic dignity,” Hanif said.
Known for his political novel A Case of Exploding Mangoes, Hanif said he was dismayed over a video featuring a Baloch girl pleading for the “right to live”.
A week later, his act of resistance is still dominating chatter across borders. On social media, he is being hailed as a “beacon of conscience” and compared to Rabindranath Tagore. In a video shared by Lok Sujag, he is seen reading out Sammi Baloch’s notes to the government, saying, “Can the government answer these pleas? Until they can, I don’t think I need any awards.”
And users on X are all praise for Hanif.
“In an oppressive state, there will be intellectuals who break the barriers of lang, ethnicity & religion to stand with the oppressed people. That’s how u know your nation is alive & breathing. Thank you for showing us that there is still a little pulse left in our nation”, a user wrote on X.
Support from the Baloch
On 20 December 2023, Islamabad Police cracked down on nearly 200 Baloch protesters who were protesting after Balach Mola Bakhsh was allegedly killed by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department. Since then, protests have been held in Turbat, mostly led by Baloch women expressing anger over CTD’s actions. According to Dawn, more than 100 Baloch students have reportedly been missing since then.
Baloch people across Pakistan have applauded Hanif’s act of solidarity.
Mahrang Baloch, who has been at the forefront of the protests, called Hanif’s act “the brave face of journalism”.
It is the brave face of journalism. Thank You @mohammedhanif 🙏 https://t.co/iNUyeNNYpa
— Mahrang Baloch (@MahrangBaloch_) December 23, 2023
Sammi Deen Baloch, one of the key protestors in the Baloch Long March, said that Hanif’s “empathetic stance in support of oppressed people is a source of hope”.
We appreciate the presence of humanists like @mohammedhanif whose empathetic stance in support of oppressed people is a source of hope. Your bold decision in advocating for the marginalized will undoubtedly be remembered and valued#MarchAgainstBalochGenocide https://t.co/QfwgWRhyiv
— Sammi Deen Baloch (@SammiBaluch) December 23, 2023
Hanif was also hailed as the true successor of Pakistan’s noted human rights activist Asma Jahangir, whom he had accompanied on her fact-finding missions to Balochistan.
‘This is an example of triumph over coercion. Your action is historic and tells us that the real medal is your stand with the truth against oppression without any fear and greed. Hat’s off to mohammed hanif today you filled the gap of Asma Jahangir, you succeeded her,” journalist Aaliya Shah tweeted.
Praise for India too
Somehow, amid all this, India found a mention and praise.
A Baloch noted how Hanif’s actions are similar to Tagore’s, who renounced his knighthood in protest.
“Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in 1919 because of the massacre in Jallianwala Bagh by British Forces. Today after around a century, @mohammedhanif renounced his award against injustices happening to Baloch,” Bilal Noor Baloch wrote.
“Indian luminaries showed the way 8 yrs ago. Now our Hanif has pointed the way for the Balochi PM @anwaar_kakar, @murtazasolangi, heavily medalled faujis, politicos, writers and others. Let them probe their consciences NOW!”, another user tweeted.