'Pakistan is nothing but a lie'

Qazi Dad Mohammad Rehan is a prominent Baloch political activist, journalist, and cultural advocate, currently serving as the Information and Cultural Secretary of the Baloch National Movement (BNM).

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His association with the BNM dates back to 2008, when he first took on the role of Information Secretary, becoming the youngest cabinet member in the party's history. Rehan's political journey began early, during his school days in the 7th grade, through active involvement with the Baloch Students Organization (BSO), eventually rising to the position of Deputy Organizer in Gwadar.

Parallel to his political activism, he pursued a career in journalism, contributing columns to various Urdu newspapers while still in college. In an exclusive interview with Rahul Gahlawat of The Statesman, he talked about the cultural and political discourse of the Baloch movement as well as Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK).

Q. What are your views on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)?

A: The people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are also facing a situation similar to that of the Baloch. In Balochistan, the intensity of this repression has increased - killings and the suppression of political voices are carried out with brutality and violence. In Kashmir, Pakistan is trying to control people's thoughts and actions through social engineering. The rights movements there are vigilant and quite active. We are observing them and have already initiated cooperation with them. However, the voice of Kashmir is still faint, or it is not reaching us clearly. There is a history of violence and killings even over minor demands in that region. When people demand flour, electricity, or employment, the Pakistani state responds with force.