Siraj Raisani

Mir Siraj Khan Raisani (4 April 1963 – 13 July 2018) was a Pakistani politician who belonged to the Balochistan Awami Party. He was assassinated in a suicide bombing while campaigning for his seat prior to the 2018 general elections.^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Mehrgarh, Balochistan into the family of the Raisani tribe patriarch, Siraj Raisani was the youngest of 7 brothers.

He came from a politically distinguished family. His father, Ghous Bakhsh Raisani, served as the governor of the Balochistan province between 1970 and 1971. His eldest brother Aslam Raisani served as the 13th Chief Minister of Balochistan from 2008 to 2013. Another of his brothers, Lashkari Raisani, served as a senator in the Senate of Pakistan from 2009 to 2015. Siraj himself, was head of his father's Balochistan Muttahida Mahaz (Balochistan United Front) party until June 2018, when he merged it into the newly-formed Balochistan Awami Party.^[4]

Siraj Raisani obtained his early education from government institutions in Bolan. He then went on to get a bachelors degree in agronomy from the Sindh Agriculture University in Tando Jam. After that he undertook a course in floriculture from an academic institute in the Netherlands.^[5]

Political views

Raisani held strong pro-federation views in the restive province of Balochistan which has seen a drawn out, low-level insurgency since 1948. He was a staunch supporter of the Pakistan Army and held annual rallies to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day in the province.^[6] He also held the record of making the longest Pakistani flag.^[7]

He wanted to unite the various tribes of Balochistan in pursuit of the province's rights. Upon joining the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in June 2018, he said that the decision was made keeping in view the "BAP's mission to unite people from all tribes and ethnic backgrounds living in the province for the rights of the province."^[4]

Raisani also blamed India for funding the insurgency in the province and consequently possessed extreme anti-India views. He often posted pictures of himself on social media while degrading the Indian flag – including standing on it and wrapping it around his boots.^[8][9]

Assassination

While on the trail in his campaign for the Balochistan Provincial Assembly seat of PB-35 (Mastung), he had held a political gathering in the Daringarh area of the Mastung District on 13 July 2018. He was about to address the people gathered inside the ceremonial tent and had just taken to the stage when a powerful suicide blast ripped through the audience.^[11] Siraj Raisani was one of the 131 people who were killed in the attack.^[12] Islamic State of Iraq and Levant claimed responsibility for the bombing.^[13]

Raisani was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Kanak area of Mastung on 14 July 2018. His funeral was attended by dignitaries from across Pakistan, including army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa and interim Chief Minister of Baluchistan, Alauddin Marri. A day of national mourning was also declared.^[14]

References