Is Pakistan using COVID-19 situation to eliminate Baloch, Pashtun leaders?

The timing is even crucial specially in the Muslim world where people are observing the holy month of Ramadan.

The crackdown on Pashtun population is taking place in the country in such a scenario when at one end the globe is combating a deadly virus and the Muslims are observing the month of fasting and seeking forgiveness.

It is alleged that Pakistan's secret agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is behind these coordinated attacks, reported ANI news agency.

The Killings:

Shocking the Pashtuns and Baloch, deaths of two people, Arif Wazir, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and missing Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain- were reported last week.

While PTM has been critical of the state's policies in the country's tribal belt, where a massive operation against terrorists was conducted in recent times leading to large-scale displacement and enforced disappearances, the Baloch journalist was known for writing extensively on the suffering of the Baloch people.

Two months after Sajid went missing, the body of a Pakistani journalist, who had fled his nation, was found dead in a river in Sweden last week.

Sajid Hussain was the editor of online magazine Balochistan Times.

He fled from Pakistan in 2012 after getting death threats.

He was granted political asylum in Sweden.

A press freedom charity had suggested Pakistani intelligence was behind Hussain's disappearance in early March, reports BBC.

He was last seen boarding a train to Uppsala, a city 35 miles (56km) north of Stockholm, reported The Guardian.

“His body was found on 23 April in the Fyris river outside Uppsala,” Jonas Eronen, a police spokesman, told the newspaper.

Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader who was vocal about the rights of Pashtun people was killed by unidentified assailants outside his home in Wana, South Waziristan, in Pakistan, media reports said.

Wana Station House Officer Usman Khan confirmed Wazir had passed away after being shifted to Islamabad for treatment, reported Dawn News.

According to Zee News, the attack followed after he was arrested by Pakistani Police on April 17 for an alleged anti-Pakistan speech during his recent visit to Afghanistan. He was released on bail three days ago, it said.

Mohsin Dawar, a lawmaker of Pakistan's Parliament and member of the PTM, accused “state-sponsored terrorists” of carrying out the attack.

The PTM has been demanding an end of the extrajudicial killings and unlawful detentions of Pashtun people.

‘‘It is with the heavy heart I report that our comrade Arif Wazir has succumbed to his injuries. Wazir’s father and brother were killed by terrorists years ago. Our struggle against their masters will continue," said Mohin Dawar, a member of Pakistan’s parliament, according to Zee News.

Condemnations:

The killing of both the person earned condemnation from different sections of the society.

Fazel Fazly, Director General, Administrative Office of the Afghanistan President, tweeted: "Devastated to hear about the loss of Arif Wazir. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and #PTM. Despite losing many loved ones in similar fashion Arif Wazir campaigned for non-violence. His advocacy and activism must not go in vain. Rest in peace brother!"