November 16, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 17, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Saturday criticised the government for launching military operation in the Mohmand Agency without taking emergency preparedness steps before its inception.

In a press statement issued here, HRCP’s vice-chairperson for NWFP Mussarat Hilali feared that hundreds of thousands of people would be displaced in the wake of what she called the ill-planned military drive in Mohmand. She added that the government had learnt nothing from the Bajaur operation where hundreds of thousands of people had to move to safer places but the government was unable to cope with problems of the displaced people.

She also voiced concern over the plight of non-combatant civilians who got marooned in the tribal region and could not come out of the conflict zone due to the heavy shelling by security forces.