Sanaullah Baloch

Sanaullah Baloch (Urdu :ثناء اللہ بلوچ) is a well respected and articulated politician and development expert in Balochistan, Pakistan. He served both in Pakistan's National Assembly (1997-99)and as Member Senate of Pakistan (2003-2008). He resigned from Senate in 2008 in protest against Islamabad's undemocratic policies towards Balochistan and other suppressed nations and regions (i.e. Sindh and PukhtoonKhawa). He is Executive Director of Balochistan Institute for Development and Member Central Executive Committee of Balochistan National Party.

In addition, he served as member of the Standing Committee on Local Government and Problems of Less Developed areas, member of Senate Function Committee on Government Assurances. He serves on the Board Member of Directors of Balochistan Institute for Development.

Mr Baloch has served as a Member of National Assembly of Pakistan from 1997 to 1999. He is author of many books on Balochistan and regularly contributes [articles] in English and Urdu papers on democracy, constitutionalism, federalism, human rights and conflict management.

In 1998 he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Interior and Narcotics Control Division but he resigned in protest when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan tested the nuclear bomb in Balochistan with out taking provincial government in to confidence.

Mr. Baloch has been practically involved in mass political movements by first joining the Baloch Students Organization in 1988 and then served as a member central executive committee of BSO. In 1995 he was elected as Secretary General of Baloch Student Organization.

During his membership, he contributed number of articles on ethnic politics, democracy, and nationalism. He mostly writes and speaks at national and international forums on Baloch nationalism, ethnic politics, federalism, democracy and Human Rights in Pakistan.

In 1999, following a military coup of general Musharaf, He contributed number of articles on constitution, federalism, issue of ethnic politics and democracy. His first book “Oppressed Balochistan” published in 2001.

As member of Senate of Pakistan and representative of Balochistan province, he articulated on social, economic and political. He is author of several constitutional amendment bills.

He studied his school in the Sandeman high school Quetta. He has been honored as a fellow by Stanford Institute for International Studies USA in 2005 in Democracy, Development and Rule of law program.

Sanaullah Baloch was also appointed as a Member of Parliament special committee on Balochistan formed in September 2004, he was the major architect of drafting and placing Balochistan major issues in front of committee, but he resigned from the committee in December 2004 when Balochistan National Party and people of province demonstrate their dissatisfaction on committee.

Sanaullah Baloch also played a very significant role defending legitimate aspiration and democratic demands of the province in very inspiring manner in electronic and print media during 2005, when federal government launched a military operation in Balochistan province.

He also talked about Pakistan and Balochistan political issues in key international forums and think tank institutes and delivered number of lectures, talks and presentations on federalism in Pakistan, democracy and on Balochistan conflict.

Mr. Baloch has visited number of countries; His research and professional expertise are in the field of Democracy, Constitutionlism, Federalism, human rights and Ethnic Minorities in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. He speaks, read and write English, Balochi, Persian, Pushto, Urdu, Brahvi languages.