The Baloch News (TBN) has approached Awaz Wahid, elder brother of Allah Dad Wahid, for an interview about Allah Dad in the ongoing “The Dad Series”.
Question: Describe Dad as a family man? As a brother, how have you seen him?
Awaz Wahid: The last time we were physically together was in 2010 and since then I had not been able to physically be with my brother but through our long phone calls, messages via various glowing screens, through the eyes of my family, I had come to know him to be actually the man of the house after our father, despite of me being the older one. He was always advising me on almost everything. Always sent books for me and pushed me to read more. I respected him more than any of our family members. He might have been some years younger than me but in his wisdom, in his sincerity, he was far ahead of his age or of mine for that matter.
Question: How do you see the circumstances surrounding his assassination? Who do you think can be involved in his murder?
Awaz Wahid: There is no doubt in my mind that the death squads, supported by the armed forces, are behind it. Through one of his very close friends I came to know that while Dad paused his M.Phil for financial reasons (as he had told us), there was one more reason that was disturbing his studies and his mental state. He was summoned multiple times by MI (Military Intelligence) and asked to work for them in Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, which he refused. I was also told that he was getting threat calls from unknown numbers leading up to his assassination. What’s happening everyday in Balochistan, who is doing it and why? Its not exactly a state secret. Any intellectual who works for the betterment of our society and our nation was, is and will be a target of the security forces.
Question: What were his dreams and ambitions? Did he share about his Goals with you?
Awaz Wahid: “I don’t want to go anywhere, I will stay in Turbat and I will serve my people” is what he told me when I asked him to move abroad. He always worked towards a single goal – betterment of the Baloch society. He was a literary man, so he wanted to do it through literature and education. He wanted to promote Balochi language. He used to say that “New ideas come from new literature. I just want to bring literary work from around world into Balochi language.” I believe his love for Balochi is well known. After working through various publications, he started his own publication house with his friends and started to translate important and new literature into Balochi. He had a clear goal and was working towards it. Now that he is no more among us, it is our wish that his friends should continue to build his work, make it their own work and help fulfil his dream.
Question: Anything else you would like to add about Allahdad?
Awaz Wahid: Dad was the greatest gift our family ever received. My brother is gone physically, and the void he leaves in our home is a silence that can never be filled. But his dream didn’t die that evening in Turbat. To his friends, his colleagues, and the youth of Balochistan: I ask you to make his work your own.