HRCP fact-finding mission to Balochistan issues observations

Quetta, June 25: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has consistently remained concerned about the human rights situation in Balochistan, where nationalist insurgency has escalated since the tragic assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and acts of terrorism by various sectarian groups has taken precious lives of innocent civilians as well as of security forces. The recent incident of multiple suicide bombings in Quetta and Ziarat were hair raising where innocent lives of young girls were taken with utter cruelty. HRCP expresses its deep condolences to the families of all the victims including those members of the security forces and the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta who lost their lives in the line of duty.

A team was constituted comprising of HRCP members Asma Jahangir, Justice Malik Saeed Hassan, Journalist Kamran Shafi, cultural critic and human rights activist Ghazi Salahuddin, researcher Nazish Brohi and HRCP editor Rafia Asim. They travelled to Balochistan, stayed in Quetta and visited Ziarat as well. In Quetta, the team met officials and non-government interlocutors, including members of political parties, lawyers, members of the press, ethnic and religious minority groups and NGOs. The team met the Chief Minister and thanks him for receiving them.

The team visited the women’s university where the first suicide bombing took place in Quetta. They met the Vice Chancellor who was gracious enough to receive them and to give them first hand information of the tragic incident. They visited Bolan Medical Complex and were horrified by the destruction they witnessed. They were impressed by the courage, valor and sensitivity shown by the administration and staff who displayed extraordinary courage and compassion during the attacks.

This press briefing contains only some of the preliminary observations and recommendations. A comprehensive report shall be released by HRCP in due course.

Observations: 

·         There was almost unanimity among all interlocutors that HRCP met expressing some hope in the formation of the new government. It was considered to be a positive step which could lead to an opportunity for ending grave human rights violations in the province. However, the same interlocutors warned that they saw no signs of a change in policy within the security and intelligence agencies as the acts “kill and dump”, torture, extra judicial killings continue. Even while the new government was being sworn in, dead bodies were being discovered and there have been reports of missing people post elections as well.

·         The fact finding received conflicting reports which could not be verified, that the pattern of terrorist attacks in the recent past indicates that some operational co-ordination exists between a number of terrorist organizations and Baloch militant groups. HRCP is in no position to verify this but finds that such allegations must be taken seriously, investigated fully and either dispelled or confirmed.

·         Every group and individual as well as political elements that welcomed the installation of the new democratic government were keen that this opportunity should not be lost and the new government should be strengthened so that it can face the multiple challenges it faces in Baluchistan. The federal government was expected to fully back the provincial government in its developmental works in the province and in extending its writ over the province as well as establishing civilian supremacy over the military intelligence agencies.

·         Law and order is dismal. Citizens are living in perpetual fear. They have no security of life and indignity at the hands of the security forces is routine. Kidnapping for ransom is rising and the abductors are almost never traced. Religious minorities are particularly vulnerable. Civil society organizations have virtually abandoned their work in the province. Women are particularly fearful and live in perpetual intimidation by extremist forces. Sectarian militant groups operate with impunity and consider reprisals against the state their right if action is taken against them by the law enforcement for carrying out terrorist activities.

Recommendations: 

·         HRCP urges the government of Balochistan to appoint a human rights advisor so that the chief minister and the Cabinet are kept fully acquinted with the human rights situation in the province.

·         At the same time, a provincial human rights commission should be set up through legislation that ought to be autonomous and given wide powers to monitor and redress human rights violations.

·         HRCP calls upon the security forces and intelligence agencies to operate within the Constitution and the law. There are credible reports of continued serious human rights violations, including disappearances of people, arbitrary arrests, torture and extra judicial killings. While the HRCP was in Balochistan, seven young men were picked up from Mathh area of Dera Bugti by the FC and subsequently summarily executed. Reportedly, their mothers were callously told to take a good look at the faces of their sons, as that would be their last opportunity to do so. The security forces and the intelligence agencies will hurt the democratic process and further alienate people from the State if they continue with their oppressive policies. HRCP demands that the administrative heads of the FC and the intelligence agencies should give a strong message to their forces desist to from committing human rights violations and that if any breeches occur, the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

·         HRCP is convinced that the people of Balochistan fully support the restoration of peace and political stability. Baloch militants must respect the wishes of the people and cease their militant attacks on innocent civilians. While HRCP is fully aware of the risks to baloch nationalists by State actors, it nevertheless expects them to denounce violence perpetuated by Baloch militant wings. There is an opportunity for Baloch nationalists and militants to embrace the new realities that are being presented through this democratic process. A weakening of this process will only strengthen the hands of undemocratic forces. As such it could lead to an escalation of violence towards activists in Balochistan. HRCP believes that this opportunity should be seized for a positive step forward and urges the Baloch militants to cease all forms of violence for, at least, a time bound period to give peace a chance. This would give the newly elected government an opportunity to come down hard on those actors within the state who commit human rights violations on the plea of national security. During this period, the government could put up a monitoring mechanism so that human rights violations by State agents are detected, investigated and perpetrators punished. This could lead to reciprocity for peace, rather than reprisal where eventually ordinary people have to pay heavily with their lives, liberty and their right to peaceful existence.

( I. A. Rehman )
Secretary-General

Category: English