International experts support Baloch activist's call for designating Musharraf as global terrorist

New Delhi [India], Dec 4 (ANI): International experts have come out in support of Prof Naela Quadri Baloch, head of the World Baloch Women Forum (WBWF), who had urged the United States to designate former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

A German activist and supporter of the Baloch cause, Claudia Heidelberg, told ANI she supported Prof. Quadri Baloch.

"I join Prof. Naela Quadri Baloch in requesting the US to designate Pervez Musharraf as a global terrorist, after coming out openly in media that he supports labeled terrorist organisations by UN Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD)," Heidelberg said.

The German activist called for an investigation by competent authorities in European Union countries to probe Musharraf's association with these terror organisations.

"Musharraf is not a private citizen and his words need to be taken seriously, it is utterly disgraceful on his part for open admiration, and support for a terrorist organisation," Heidelberg said, adding, "His remarks calls for an investigation by competent authorities in EU countries to probe his association-level support that he might have rendered to the LeT till date."

Heidelberg termed Musharraf as "butcher" for his alleged involvement in the murder of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti.

"Musharraf is known as the butcher of Balochistan; his hands are soaked with blood of Baloch. The world has not forgotten his role in murder of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti," the German activist said, adding, "His ruthless use of US weapons against the Baloch was admitted in the past by the former governor of Balochistan."

Heidelberg also urged the EU member states to ban Musharraf's entry into their countries.

"I think it makes sense to request on behalf of my NGO BalochistanProject to urge all EU member states to deny him any right to enter into EU. I will inform my foreign minister about this and expect my colleague Reza Hossein Borr will inform the government of the UK as well," the German activist said.

"His comments have shown his criminal mindset that is not only a threat to the regional peace but to the whole international community," Heidelberg further said.

The German activist emphasised that terrorist organisation like the LeT and the JuD were uniting with the IS and the Taliban.

"These terrorist groups are uniting with international terror groups like the IS and the Taliban. Europe must undertake effective measures against such dangerous figures like Musharraf and send a message to all such individuals," Heidelberg

Echoing similar sentiment, a former research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College, Dr Robert Darius, said Musharraf must be tried in the International Court of Criminal Justice.

"Gen Musharraf, the butcher of Balochistan, must have a trial in the International Court of Criminal Justice and must give back the money he took out of Pakistan in the form of charity to the poverty stricken people of Balochistan," Dr Darius said.

"The free world must teach a lesson to this type of ruthless generals who butcher innocent people and rob their own people," he added.

Dr Darius said that the US State Department would serve the cause of human rights by designating Musharraf a terrorist.

"The US State Department will serve the cause of human rights and counter terrorism by designating the butcher of Balochistan, Gen Musharraf, as a leader in promoting terror and death in Balochistan!" he said.

"Musharraf's actions, while he was in-charge, promoted terrorism beyond Balochistan," he added.

Ealier, responding to a question about having an alliance with JuD chief Saeed, Musharraf, in an interview to Pakistan-based Aaj News channel, had said, "So far, there have been no talks with them but if they want to be part of the alliance, I would welcome them."

The former military ruler had last month announced the formation of a grand political alliance after a consultative meeting between representatives of around two dozen political parties, including the Sunni Tehreek, Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Mr Musharraf's own All Pakistan Muslim League (APML).

However, several parties dissociated themselves from Musharraf's Awami Ittehad alliance after he announced the formation of a "grand alliance" of 23 parties.

According to media reports, two major partners of the alliance - the Pakistan Awami Tehrik and the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen - denied being part of the coalition headed by Musharraf.

Saeed, who continues to be an influential person in Pakistan's certain religious groups despite being an internationally-designated terrorist, announced on Saturday that he would contest the general election in 2018.

The announcement comes days after the Lahore High Court ordered his release from the house arrest.

However, the JuD chief did not disclose anything about the constituency he would like to contest from.

Though, the JuD formed Milli Muslim League (MML) in August when Saeed was detained in Lahore, the party yet to be recognised by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Saeed is a wanted terrorist by India and the United States for his alleged role in masterminding the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives. He even carries a bounty of 10 million USD (approx. Rs 66 crore) on his head for his role in the attack.

Musharraf had recently called himself as the "biggest supporter" of the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed.

Speaking on Pakistan's ARY News, Musharraf said, "I am the biggest supporter of the LeT and I know they like me and the JuD also likes me."

The former president added that he was always in favour of terrorist action in Kashmir, and the LeT and the JuD were the biggest forces to take on the Indian Army in the state. (ANI)