The Guardian, Monday 4 April 2011
James Nicole
Your feature (Pakistan's dirty secret, G2, 30 March) is to be welcomed. I knew nothing about the atrocities in Balochistan until I defended Hyrbyair Marri, a tribal leader, who was unjustly charged here in the UK with terrorist offences. It is my belief that the British government were complicit and that the charges were initiated at the behest of then President Musharraf.

Mr Marri's alleged criminal activity was said by the prosecution to have nothing whatsoever to do with the United Kingdom, but concerned his call to the people of Balochistan to defend themselves against the killings being inflicted upon them by the Pakistan military and intelligence services. Two weeks before he was arrested in London Mr Marri's brother, Balach Marri, was killed by Pakistan forces. Hyrbyair Marri spent time in Belmarsh before being found not guilty of all charges in 2009.

What I found shocking was this: in the course of preparing Mr Marri's case I travelled to Karachi to interview victims of state torture. I was told on my arrival that each of the witnesses had put their own lives at risk by coming to see me.

A short time after my return two of those that I had interviewed, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, president of the Baloch National Movement, and Shir Mohammad Baloch, the then deputy secretary general of the Baloch Republican party, were assassinated. Both had been seized together from the offices of their lawyer in Quetta.

Extrajudicial killings in Balochistan ought to be universally condemned, and those responsible brought to book.

James Nichol

Partner, TVE Edwards LLP Solicitors