Security agencies in Balochistan
The last port of call of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance was Bosnia Herzegovina where large scale disappearances of Bosnians took place under the former Serbian junta. That the group has now been assigned the task to probe similar happenings to Pakistan is indicative of the international community’s grave concern. Thanks the indifference shown to public anxiety about enforced disappearances in Balochistan, the issue is gradually getting internationalized. Blaming Pakistan’s enemies of blowing up the matter out of proportion would no longer convince anyone after the UN takes up the issue in its hands. The UN Working Group is already in Islamabad and would visit various parts of the country to meet officials, representatives of civil society organizations, UN agencies and relatives of disappeared people. In days to come Pakistan is likely to get more negative publicity in international media.
The large scale enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been condemned by political parties and the civil society in general. Studies conducted by the HRCP underlined the involvement of the security agencies in the affair. This was subsequently corroborated by the Supreme Court also. Those accused of being responsible for the nefarious activity, however, maintained a state of denial. Over the last several months two Supreme Court benches have worked overtime to persuade and direct the security agencies to produce the disappeared persons before the court. The apex court has summoned top government officials, given them timeframes and tried to put the fear of God into them without much success.
The issue was again highlighted at a National Conference on Balochistan convened by the Supreme Court Bar Association on Sunday. The Conference once again pointed a finger at the security agencies accusing them of gross human rights violations. Among other things the Conference demanded transparent elections without the interference of the agencies. It is a matter of satisfaction that despite threats from the extremists all nationalist parties are still keen to take part in the forthcoming elections. They have however made it known that violence might engulf the entire province if the agencies did not stop manipulating the system.
A perception both at home and abroad that those entrusted with the enforcement of law were themselves wilfully and continuously violating it would impair the image of law enforcement bodies and isolate the country. What is more it would encourage lawlessness in the province. There is still time to repent and change course.
