LAHORE, Feb 14: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday demanded of the government that it should swiftly resettle all the people displaced by floods and rains and information about the number of affected people and rescue operations must be made public.

A press statement by the HRCP said that the situation created in many parts of the country, especially Pasni and Makran areas of Balochistan, by floods and heavy rains posed a significant challenge to authorities.

The information about affectees and rescue operation was vital as lack of transparency could add to apprehensions, already being voiced in Balochistan, that all facts were not being disclosed, it said.

"This is particularly damaging at a time when an acute political crisis is already prevailing in the country." At the same time, there is also a need to hold an impartial inquiry into the collapse of Shadi Kur Dam which led to scores of deaths rendering thousands homeless. After all, development projects of all kinds are intended to meet the basic needs of people, rather than add to their miseries.

It is crucial that the displaced people are abandoned as soon as the media limelight swings away from the current crisis. In the past, people in Balochistan resettled under official aid packages after drought, were in fact left in a situation where they had no means to earn a livelihood or replace lost stock of cattle.

Such mistakes must be avoided this time and ways found to enable people to return to normal activity as soon as possible, it said. Steps must be taken to ensure that the sufferings being faced by so many people in the province is not permitted, through official apathy, to turn into yet another ground for disgruntlement against the central authorities.