In a latest report on the situation prevailing in Balochistan, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Wednesday said the dead bodies of 140 missing persons had so far been recovered, adding that no action was taken to investigate even a single case despite the strong evidences of the involvement by the Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in the matter.
The HRCP fact-finding mission described the state of affairs in Balochistan to be extremely precarious, saying investigation revealed that 143 Baloch people went missing during August 2009 to May 2011. It also mentioned 18 cases of targeted killings and five others of sectarian nature in 2011. The report also mentions that the insurgents have murdered the ‘settlers’ in targeted killings with impunity.
“There is strong evidence of involvement of the security forces in enforced disappearances and killings,” it says, adding that the FIRs registered against the personnel of security agencies are not being investigated.
Police have not even managed to get an audience with the personnel of security forces accused of abducting the citizens while the courts fail to ensure compliance with their orders.
Giving details of report, HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yousaf, Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jahangir, IA Rehman, Hina Jillani and Muneeza Hashmi while addressing a press conference at a local hotel called for confidence and trust-building measures to a wider consultation with all stakeholders, as they stressed the need of demilitarisation of the province. They said the government must take practical steps to provide relief to the people of youth, increase funds for the provincial government, withdraw army and paramilitary forces from the territory, release political prisoners and disappeared persons, and formulate constitutional amendments for greater provincial autonomy.
They said there was an urgent need to restructure laws related to the civil armed forces and define their role with an open debate in the Parliament
The report says enforced disappearances continue to be reported from all parts of the province and little headway had been made in ensuring the release of a large number of missing persons from the unacknowledged custody of the security agencies. It cites the trend of dumping the mutilated bodies of missing persons as worrying trend.
The HRCP office bearers said the findings again revealed the fact that the security forces enjoyed complete impunity while the civilian government appeared to have surrendered the powers and is subservient to the military.
According to the report, the security forces in Balochistan do not consider that they are answerable or accountable to the political government or judiciary, nor feel compelled to cooperate with the civil administration.
It says the targeted killings, on the basis of ethnicity and belief, are rampant while at least 78 organised gangs are reported to be involved in abduction for ransom. There is a widespread perception that criminal gangs and individuals involved in heinous crime enjoy support of politicians and security forces.
