Jumma Khan Marri (
Balochi: جمعه خان مری) is a senior
Baloch political activist from Balochistan.
He was formerly a member of Baloch separatist groups.
In February 2018, Marri stated that he and his followers have left the separatists groups. He and his followers pledged their allegiance towards
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
and established 'Overseas Pakistani Balochi Unity' (OPBU) for the Baloch people living abroad. He stated that "sacrificed everything for a movement which turned out to be fundamentally faulty and empty from within". He also claimed that BLF and Baloch freedom struggle was hijacked by
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Marri insists that India is behind the unrest in Balochistan. He disclosed that if India stops the money supplies, the insurgency will end the next day.
Personal life
Jumma Khan Marri is the son of Mir Hazar Khan Marri.
His father, Mir Hazar Khan Marri was the head of Bajarani Marri tribe.
In 1986, he went to
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
to pursue higher education, where he acquired his degree in Medicines at
Russian State Medical University and later obtained PhD in Immunology and Allergies in 1998.
Activities
In 1964, Jumma Khan Marri founded
Baloch Liberation Front
The Balochistan Liberation Front ( ur, بلوچستان لبریشن فرنٹ; BLF) is a militant group operating in the Balochistan region of southwestern Asia. The group was founded by Jumma Khan in 1964 in Damascus, and played an important ro ...
(BLF) in
Damascus,
Syria. Marri controlled BLF since its inception and it is unclear when he stepped down as the leader of the outfit.
In an interview with Russian news channel, Marri stated that he was the one who designed the 'free Balochistan flag'. He stated that he was among those people who were always on the forefront of Baloch freedom struggle. Marri said that he left
Balochistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
in 1979 and settled in Afghanistan along with his family. He stated that he has been in self imposed exile in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
since 2000. Moreover, he said that he "sacrificed everything for a movement which turned out to be fundamentally faulty and empty from within".
Overseas Pakistan Baloch Unity (OPBU)
On 17 February 2018, Marri stated that he and his followers have left the separatist groups. He said that he is launching 'Overseas Pakistani Balochi Community' for the Baloch living aboard. The purpose of new organisation will be to confront and expose the "evil design" of people like "Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbiyar Marri and Mehran Marri". He states that Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbiyar Marri and Mehran Marri "are on the Indian payroll”.
Marri announced his separation from separatist groups while attending a 'Pakistan Unity Day' event in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
.
Marri's decision to leave separatist groups was welcomed in Balochistan. A huge gathering took place in
Kholu, Balochistan to welcome Marri's decision. Speaking from Moscow, Marri thanked people of Pakistan especially his supporters in Kholu for arranging such a big gathering to welcome his decision. He also asked the Balochs who are fighting against the state to lay down their weapons and start supporting development activities in the province. He stated that Indian funded so-called Baloch leaders were enjoying luxurious life in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
while common Baloch was suffering from terrorism and violence.
The gathering to welcome Marri's decision took place in Kholu which was once a stronghold of
Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
During an interview with Russian News channel, Marri stated that India is behind the unrest in Balochistan. He disclosed that if India stops the money supplies, the insurgency will end the next day.
He said that majority of Baloch people have no problem with Pakistan. They have questions to the government just like every other normal citizen have for their government in their country around the world.
In September 2018, Marri visited
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
where he held meetings with European Institutions for the awareness about the misuse of Human Rights Conventions by the terrorists. Marri told media in Brussels that 'during his meeting with European Institutions, he cautioned the policy makers about misuse of asylum by some terrorist from Balochistan under the pretext of human rights'. Some European countries have already rejected asylum to several Baloch leaders because of misuse of various forums to cause unrest among Baloch diaspora and in Balochistan.
While during his stay in Brussels, Marri also met with Baloch community in Europe to gain their support and to bring the misguided groups on the right track.
Marri said that some Baloch are being allured by 'outside forces' in the name of nationalism which is only worsening the socio-economic plight of Baloch people. Marri also disclosed that he was offered funding from spy agencies of several countries to organize insurgencies in Balochistan, but over time he realized the real motive, which was to destabilize Balochistan. Such uprisings does not bring any dividends to people.
During his speech in
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), CDH is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. ...
(UNHRC) in
Geneva
, neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier
, website = https://www.geneve.ch/
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...
in 2019, Marri said that Pakistani law enforcement agencies had apprehended an Indian naval commander in Balochistan who confessed that India was behind unrest in the province. Marri also said that thousands of innocent people have been killed in Pakistan because of India's terrorist network who use Afghanistan as base to conduct their attacks.
On China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Marri state that development of
Gwadar Port, road networks and alternate power projects could offer great opportunities to Baloch people.
See also
*
Dad Shah
*
Balochistan Liberation Army
The Balochistan Liberation Army ( bal, بلۏچستان آجوییء لشکر; abbreviated BLA), also known as the Baloch Liberation Army, is a Baloch ethnonationalist militant organization based in Afghanistan. The BLA's first recorded acti ...
*
Baloch Students Organization
The Baloch Students Organization (BSO; ur, ) is a student organisation that campaigns for the students of Pakistan's Balochistan Province. It was founded as a student movement on 26 November 1967 in Karachi and remains the largest ethnic Baloc ...
*
Baloch Students Organization- Awami
*
Baluchi Autonomist Movement
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan Marri, Jumma
Baloch nationalists
Living people
Balochistan
Pakistani emigrants to Russia
Immigrants to the Soviet Union
Pakistani emigrants
Pakistani expatriates in Afghanistan
Year of birth missing (living people)