Fuel Trade not a Crime

Alluding to the shooting at fuel traders by Iranian frontier forces in Iran-Pakistan border in the Saravan County, eastern part of Sistan-Baluchistan, a number of high-level Baloch scholars reacted to the shooting incident in a meeting that was held at the provincial governor office of Sistan-Baluchistan on Tuesday March 2, 2021.
The Iranian Baloch clerics urged that the economic and living problems of the people of Sistan-Baluchistan should be resolved.

Ulama from different parts of Iranian Balochistan insisted on removing security measures from the province. They called the government to create jobs for unemployed people of Sistan-Baluchistan.

According to unofficial reports, at least ten fuel traders lost their lives by shooting of the Iranian forces at the border where they were stopped for three days before the incident.

Mufti Mohammad Qasem Qasemi, senior teacher of Hadith and jurisprudence of Darululoom Zahedan considered execution of justice as one of the most important factors in solving the economic problems and said: “The development of the province is possible when everyone gets his/her due rights; when justice is administered, then people can enjoy a good and clean life”.

Addressing the officials, chairman of Darul-Ifta of Darululoom Zahedan believed that the problems of Sistan-Baluchistan would be solved when the authorities take serious steps with right intention and with determination.

The Grand Sunni Mufti of Iran urged that officials should listen to the critics and address their demands if they are right.

Mawlana Mohammad Othmanو Friday Imam of Sunnis in Khash pointed to the bravery of Baloch people and their historic wars in defense of Balochistan by saying: “People of this province are the ones whose forefathers have been shed blood to defend this land and they were killed”.

He strongly opposed to call the protesters of this incident as opponents and urged that the officials must help the families of the victims and show compassion to them.

Mawlana Abdol-Kareem Husseinpour believed that security measures should be removed from the province.
President of Ain-ul-Uloom Gosht/Saravan called for strong economic projects in Iranian Baluchistan and said: “Officials should create sources of income in the province; if they are unable to provide jobs, we will definitely observe such incidents in the future.”

He stressed on removing security measures from the province and said: “Security measures should be removed from Sistan-Baluchestan. The officials should think for the people of this province in order to reduce their problems.”

Mawlana Abdol-Ghaffar Naqshbandi said: “Instead of skipping the incident, the officials should think of ways to solve the economic crisis of Sistan-Baluchistan.”

The vice-Friday Imam of Rask continued: “We are witnessing difficult days in our province, hear unpleasant voices and see bitter events in our province.”

“Instead of making excuses, the authorities should seek to solve the people’s problems,” he said.

Mawlana Malek Mohammad Baluchzahi, Friday Imam of Sirkan in the district of Saravan said the perpetrators of this incident should be punished and the victims should be declared as martyrs.

Shaikh Abdol-Wahed Bozorgzadeh, vice-Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Chabahar urged that the incident should be prosecuted through legal means and the families of victims should be offered condolences.

Shaikh Abdol-Samad Kareemzaei, Friday Imam of Al-Zahra Mosque in Iranshahr said: “Chabahar is the third largest commercial port in the world, if it lunched, it will create jobs and the problems of people will be decreased.”

Mawlana Mohammad Seddiq Durrazahi, the governor’s adviser on Sunni clerics’ affairs said: “In fact, the main protectors of this province are the residents of the border who have been protecting this land throughout history.”