QUETTA, April 10: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Balochistan chapter, has claimed gross human rights violations in the judicial lock-ups and police stations of the province and expressed deep concerned over it.

The monthly meeting of the HRCP, presided over by Tahir Mohammad Khan advocate, was held here to discuss various issues, including formation of the National Security Council.

The meeting observed that conditions were deteriorating in the police stations and judicial lock-ups of the province and termed this situation inhuman. It alleged that police and jail officials adopted violent attitude towards people.

It was also observed that conditions in these lock-ups were unhygienic, that was injurious to human life. The meeting was told that due to these conditions, people hesitated to go to police stations.

The HRCP meeting demanded that the government should take steps to improve the hygienic conditions in the judicial and police lock-ups, and stop human rights violations.

The commission also discussed formation of the National Security Council (NSC) and outrightly rejected it, terming it an institution that would imposed permanent martial law in the country.

The meeting condemned the attitude of the jail staff for not allowing HRCP representatives to meet with protesting leaders of teachers' association, despite having permission from the IGP.

The HR body also criticized the government for not taking notice of the protest launched by lawyers in Quetta against the attitude of jail authorities.

The commission demanded that the government should resolve the issue of the protesting lawyers through negotiation with their representative organization. It was also demanded that the arrested teachers should be released and the government should hold talks with them on their demands.

PANIC: A powerful explosion occurred around 10:50p.m. on Wednesday night in Railway Guard Colony at Joint Road causing great panic in the area, police said. No casualty was reported.