The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir has expressed alarm at the rising number of people being gunned down in Balochistan.
“In hardly any case have the culprit been apprehended and no one convicted for these grave human rights violations”, she said in a Press statement.
The target killing of Professor Sabad Dashtiari, senior member of the faculty of the University of Balochistan was tragic as he was a respected intellectual who had contributed towards Baloch poetry and authored a number of books. He was no militant but a victim of violence. Target killings in Balochistan is being carried out across the board on ethnic lines; Punjabi, Baloch and Pakhtoons, she said.
In addition Hazarawals, who mostly belong to Fiqa-e-Jafferia have been target of killings in at least three incidents. Despite the fact that the Province is awash with the presence of security forces and check points, violence continues and innocent civilians as well as security forces themselves are not safe, she said.
“It is the obligation of the state to investigate these crimes effectively and bring the perpetrators to justice. There are also widespread allegations against State agents themselves who are accused of illegal use of violence resulting in severe torture and killings of suspected nationalists and militants. These reports appear to be credible. The Parliament must debate this issue and find solutions to bring some stability in Balochistan”, she said.
