QUETTA, Dec 10: Justice Mehta Kalash Nath Kohli of the Balochistan High Court on Saturday underlined the need for practical steps to stop human rights violations. Speaking at a seminar held here on the International Human Rights Day, he said protection of human rights was the responsibility of people of all segments of the society and they should come forward for playing their role in this regard.

“The judiciary is playing its role for the protection of human rights and providing justice to people,” Justice Kohli said, adding that the government and all other institutions should also fulfil their responsibilities in this connection.

Former governor of Balochistan Amirul Mulk Mengal said the judiciary had always played a very important role with reference to human rights.

He said 75 per cent of the population of the country living in rural areas lacked awareness about defending their rights. He said all non-governmental institutions, social organizations and media should play their role in creating awareness among people about their rights and responsibilities.

Senator Amanullah Kanrani of the Jamhoori Watan Party expressed concern over human rights conditions in Balochistan. He criticized the role of human rights organizations in this regard.

He said the organizations and NGOs were silent over gross human rights violations in Balochistan, where the government had launched operations to crush people who were demanding their rights.

BNM: Hundreds of workers of the Balochistan National Movement took out a procession in Khuzdar to mark the day.