2014 has been a challenging year for Makran on education because three of the districts had to face unexpected circumstances.

Balochistan Levies, a paramilitary force in Pakistan’s remote southwest province of Balochistan, said that three bodies were found from the Sanjavi area in Ziarat and three from the Saranan area of Pishin district, while two other bodies were found from the two in hub Khanozai and Hikalzai areas of Pishin.

“All the victims had received multiple bullets from close range,” a Levies source said, adding that the bodies were yet to be identified. The bodies were taken to a hospital for identification. A large number of law enforcement officials reached the site from where the bodies were found as an investigation into the incident was underway.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killings.

This incident occurred a few days after three other bodies were found from the Yaro area of the Pishin district. Eight suspected militants, including a local Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander, were killed by security forces in Balochistan’s Ziarat district on Friday morning.

Another operation was launched in the Chotair area of Ziarat during which a TTP commander and another seven militants were killed. Security forces also claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from the possession of militants. Sources said that the deceased militants were involved in acts of kidnapping and other terrorist incidents in the area. They added that the militants who were killed appeared to be foreigners. This incident has come a day after security forces and police picked up four militants from Quetta’s Eastern Bypass area.

A roadside improvised explosive device was detonated in the Gogkdan Mai area of Turbat by remote control when vehicles of the Frontier Works Organization (FWO )were passing. The vehicles remained safe but a soldier, Mohammad Shabbir, was slightly injured in a clash with unidentified armed men after the explosion. The sources said a FWO convoy was also the target of another explosion that took place in the Chattkan area of Panjgur, but no loss was reported.

Zahid Askani, founder and principal of the Oasis School in the port city of Gwadar, was assassinated by unknown militants last Thursday. According to police sources, Askani was intercepted by assassins when he was on his way to the Oasis School and died on the spot.

Makran is among the few divisions of Balochistan that had rapidly raised literacy rates in the past two decades because of a few motivated education advocates. This modern educational campaign began just a few years before the 21st century in Panjgur and Kech and reached Gwadar in 2002 as Askani began his education initiative.

2014 has been a challenging year for Makran on education because three of the districts had to face unexpected circumstances. The first phase of this dirty game began from Kech since it has a higher literacy rate moving toward Panjgur and Gwadar. The renowned Delta English Language Center in Kech was shut down because it was accused of disseminating anti-state literature.

Balochistan has been under the grip of violence for many years. Militants in the area have targeted security forces, vital national installations and pro-government officials.

Balochistan Cable Operators Association has shut down all news channels of Pakistan in Balochistan due to pressure from Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Baloch Students Organization (BSO).

BSO had announced to block all news channels of Pakistan in protest because these channels ignore the problems of Balochistan. BNP also announced to support the protest of BSO.

Balochistan Cable Operators have decided to keep all the news channels shut till the time when BSO and news channels reach an agreement.

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Mir Behram Baloch is a journalist covering government and social issues in Balochistan. Read other articles by Mir.