Shocking abuse of human rights in Balochistan
A fact-finding mission report “Balochistan: blinkered slide into chaos” released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday paints a bleak picture of the state of human rights in the restive Balochistan province. The mission, says that the report, came across credible evidence of involvement of state agencies, especially the Frontier Constabulary (FC) in the killing and enforced disappearances of citizens.
Without exception, FIRs against security forces personnel remain uninvestigated, while the courts have failed to ensure compliance with their orders. As a matter of fact, court interventions have aggravated matters. It is no coincidence that soon after the courts started taking notice of forced disappearances, bodies of the missing people were frequently found dumped in public places.
HRCP Chairperson Zohra Yusuf noted that previously, majority of the missing persons used to return home, but now only mutilated bodies of such people turn up on roadsides and desolate places. The HRCP mission reported recording of as many as 140 such cases between July 2010 and May 2011. Most of the victims were 16 to 25 years old, either students or unemployed youth.
The report goes on to note that the provincial government is powerless and, as far as the people are concerned, irrelevant to their needs. It says, “the security forces do not consider themselves answerable or accountable to the political government or the judiciary, nor do they feel compelled to cooperate with the civil government.” In short, the security forces enjoy complete impunity to act in gross violation of fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
As we have been pointing out in these columns before, the two major issues inflaming Baloch sentiments at present are the ongoing military operations (denied by the Federal government), and forced disappearances, which of late have been leading to extra-judicial killings. On several occasions, the Governor and Chief Minister of the province have expressed their helplessness to deal with the situation. Military men of course know only one way of dealing with a problem: use of force. If there was one lesson we needed to learn from the painful experience of the separation of former East Pakistan, it was that force does not resolve anything; it only aggravates a people’s sense of being wronged.
In forming the security forces’ strategy, apparently, are two factors: a strong suspicion that the insurgents act on the instigation of those who do not wish Pakistan well, especially India, and the other, the atrocities committed by the insurgents against the settlers. As for the insurgents’ violence against innocent citizens, it hardly needs saying that the state cannot behave like them. Those acting on its behalf must use the criminal justice system to bring the perpetrators to account. The foreign hand suspicion is not baseless. There is enough evidence to suggest that until recently, the Karzai government and New Delhi had been stoking the fires of insurgency in Balochistan. But the Centre’s oppressive policies, especially under the Musharraf regime, were responsible for exacerbating the Baloch sense of alienation, and resort to arms. The real problem is inside, not outside (foreign interference is said to have significantly reduced following the improvement of relations with Kabul and Delhi). What is needed to prevent the “slide into chaos” is a policy of reconciliation aimed at winning hearts and minds of the masses. Governments, both at the Centre and in the province, must take charge and ensure that the rule of law prevails in Balochistan. Every enforced disappearance should be accounted for, and those responsible brought to justice.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/3/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
