KARACHI, Aug 30: Supporting the Sept 1 nationwide strike call given by the major opposition alliances in the country against the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other such organisations have demanded setting up of an independent commission to investigate the Kohlu incident.

They also demanded an immediate halt to the military operation in Balochistan and release of all people arrested or detained in the country in connection with the Balochistan unrest.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, HRCP Secretary General Iqbal Haider, World Social Forum (Pakistan) Chairman Karamat Ghouri, Uzma Bukhari, Raheel Iqbal, Khwaja Tariq Nazir and others asked the government to stop all excesses, including police operations and crackdowns, in Sindh and Balochistan.

Mr Haider asked the authorities to hand over remains of Nawab Akbar Bugti and his companions killed in the incident to their legal heirs.

He demanded that human rights bodies, journalists and lawyers be allowed free access to all areas that had been subjected to military operations, particularly the scene of the Aug 26 Kohlu incident.

He stressed on a peaceful solution through dialogue to all issues concerning Balochistan.

Mr Haider demanded that recommendations of the parliamentary committee, headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, be made public and implemented in letter and spirit.

He also emphasised on maximum autonomy granted to all federating units. He was of the view that the Kohlu incident would not have occurred had the government implemented the committee’s recommendations.

The HRCP secretary general observed that the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti had pushed the country to a situation witnessed in 1971 which had finally led to the dismemberment of Pakistan.

Expressing concern over the ‘grave violation of human rights’ in Balochistan, Sindh and the NWFP, where people were going missing and being picked up, Mr Haider said: “We consider all these people innocent until they are charged with any wrongdoing.”

He announced that the Joint Action Committee (JAC), having representation from various human rights organisations and NGOs, fully supported the nationwide strike call for Sept 1, and also the Jeay Sindh Mahaz’s call for observing a ‘black day’ in Sindh on that day.

He said that the JAC would participate in the protest rallies planned by the Sindh Qaumi Ittehad at Regal Chowk, Karachi, on Thursday (Aug 31) against the military operation in Balochistan and killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.—Online