November 24, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 13, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 23: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed shock and grief over the killing of Ballach Marri and serious concern over senior lawyer Munir Malik’s illness in jail and hardships being faced by judges of superior courts and their families under unlawful and unacknowledged detention.

In a statement issued here on Friday, HRCP Vice-Chairperson Hina Jilani and secretary-general Iqbal Haider said whatever anybody might have had against the Baloch leader and whatever the circumstances of his liquidation the incident was likely to increase the Balochistan people’s alienation from the state.

What was needed now was not merely a thorough probe to determine the truth about the most regrettable happening but also giving up reliance on force as the sole means of securing peace and tranquility in Balochistan.

They said the HRCP was also extremely concerned on reports that former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Munir Malik’s condition in Attock jail had become serious and he was losing consciousness for hours at a stretch.

Present SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan was also reported to have needed hospitalization, and the tribulations of senior bar leader Ali Ahmed Kurd could only be imagined.

The detention of these bar leaders and of the public opinion was not only unwarranted and unlawful but it was also violative of the demand of a fair poll and all codes of humanitarian decency. They must be released immediately.

They said the HRCP was also concerned over the unlawful and unacknowledged detention of superior courts’ judges and their families. All restrictions on their freedom of movement and their right to receive visitors must be withdrawn, they said.