WASHINGTON, March 8: In its latest report on the human rights situation in Pakistan, the US State Department took serious notice of the conflict in Balochistan, noting that scores of civilians have already been killed in clashes between security forces and Baloch militants.

The annual report for 2005, which is sent to the US Congress as an official document, points out that various political factions in Pakistan also committed politically-motivated killings. During local elections held on Aug 18 and 25, arguments between competing groups resulted in violent confrontations at polling places nationwide, leaving at least 55 dead and hundreds injured.

Religious extremist organizations killed and attempted to kill government officials and Islamic religious figures from opposing sect, the report adds.

Foreign terrorists and their local tribal allies attacked and killed military personnel, government officials, and pro-government tribal chiefs in the FATA.

Honour killings continued to be a problem, with women as the principal victims. Local human rights organizations documented 1,211 cases during the year, and many more likely went unreported.

The US State Department lists the following problems as major human rights violations in Pakistan: Restrictions on citizens’ right to change their government, extrajudicial killings, torture and rape, poor prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and lengthy pre-trial detention, violations of due process and privacy rights, lack of judicial independence, harassment, intimidation and arrest of journalists, limits on freedom of association, religion and movement, imprisonment of political leaders, corruption, legal and societal discrimination against women, child abuse, trafficking in women and children and child prostitution, discrimination against persons with disabilities, indentured, bonded and child labour, and restriction of worker rights.

The report also mentions that the Pakistan government took significant steps to combat trafficking in persons. Its Anti-Trafficking Unit (ATU) is fully functional and has resulted in increased arrests and prosecutions of human traffickers. Cooperative efforts between the military, ATU, and international organizations prevented any increase in human trafficking resulting from the Oct 8 earthquake. Training efforts within the security forces greatly improved treatment of trafficking victims.