QUETTA, Feb 26: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the growing incidents of kidnapping for ransom in Balochistan and called upon the government to take action against those responsible.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, HRCP vice chairman Tahir Hussain said that with each passing day the law and order situation in the province was deteriorating and kidnapping incidents had become a routine.

“It is a matter of concern that not a single person facing charges in kidnapping for ransom incidents has been arrested so far,” he said, adding that police and law-enforcement agencies had miserably failed on this account.

He said that Rajish Kumar, son of Dr Nandlal, president of the HRCP’s Balochistan chapter, had been kidnapped from Quetta a few days ago but law-enforcement agencies had failed to find a clue to his whereabouts.

Mr Hussain, a lawyer, called upon the government to ensure immediate recovery of Mr Kumar and security of the minority community living in the province for centuries.

He said a well-known businessman of Quetta, Zohib Bohra, had been killed by kidnappers when he offered resistance, adding that in a separate incident armed men in a vehicle with a minister’s number plate attempted to kidnap another trader in the city.

Before these incidents, the HRCP leader pointed out, a businesswoman belonging to the minority community had been kidnapped from Quetta who remained in captivity for almost a year before being released after payment of millions in ransom.

He said it’s regrettable to note that minorities in Balochistan were being compelled to migrate.