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| December 29, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 26, 1426 |
HRCP calls for talks on Baloch concerns
QUETTA, Dec 28: The Human Rights Commission team visiting Kohlu has pleaded for a political dialogue between the government and the Baloch political leadership to normalize the alarming situation in the province.
Commission chairperson Asma Jahangir said Balochistan was being pushed towards isolation, but the commission would highlight excesses, oppression and violation of human rights against the people of the province.
Asma Jahangir, accompanied by Dr Muhbashar Hasan, Afrasaib Khattak and Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani, was in the first team that went to Kohlu after a military operation launched in the area.
Briefing newsmen at a press conference here on Wednesday, she said the visit was aimed at verifying the reports of torture, military action, arbitrary detentions and involvement of intelligence agencies in the political matters.
She said the team had seen certain security check posts established on way to Kohlu and people were being humiliated there.
The government, she said, created security problems to justify the establishment of the check posts.
She said Marri tribal elders claimed killing of about 120 tribesmen in bombing and added that the team had asked for the names of victims and the places targeted in bombardment.
In reply to a query, she held out assurance that the human rights body would raise this violation issue domestically and at the world human rights forums as per commission’s charter of the United Nation.
The HRCP chairperson claimed that the team had met the victims and family members of the detainees that complained of the violation of human rights by intelligence agencies.
She said some local journalists had also complained that the intelligence agencies had threatened them and told them to send news items according to their wishes.
Afrasaib Khattak said the security staff had stopped them at Talli for 90 minutes and they had been allowed entry to Kohlu only when the commander returned from patrolling.
He said the team had seen regular troops and paramilitary forces equipped with artillery guns on the desert road towards Kahan. However, the team had not seen any other human being there, as it had travelled for about 80 minutes and returned to Sibi, he said.
Mr Khattak said security officials had told the team that forces had dismantled outlaws’ camps where abducted persons had been kept. He said other tribesmen in the area had informed the team that Marri tribesmen had fled after the launch of a military operation.
The HRCP member said the main problem was that the government wanted to construct the road to Kahan without the consent of the locals.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhbashar Hasan attributed the conflict to contradictions between the government and Sardars, and between people and chieftains as all three enjoyed commendable influence in their respective spheres to challenge each other.
He said the unpleasant situation prevailed in the province had created panic and distress among people in Quetta, which was not a good omen for the country.
Dr Muhbashar called for transparent talks between opponent groups and stressed that progress on dialogues should remain open.
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