LAHORE, July 21: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has described the praise of intelligence agencies’ doings in Balochistan by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his television address as highly disturbing.

In a statement issued here on Friday, HRCP chairperson Asma Jehangir claimed that the commission had credible evidence of involvement of intelligence services in picking up dozens of people in Balochistan, most of who had no links with militant activities.

The victims included Dr Haneef Shareef, a Baloch poet and writer who was picked up in November 2005. He was reported to have been released in December 2006. Sixteen members of the Pakistan Petroleum Workers Union from Balochistan were taken away while attending a meeting in Karachi. Most of them had since been freed with warnings issued to their families, she revealed.

She further said Munir Mengal, a TV station director engaged in setting up a channel in Balochistan went missing in April 2006. Nothing had been heard of his whereabouts since then. So is the case of Asghar Bengulzai, a political activist in Balochistan, who disappeared from Quetta on Oct 18, 2001.

She said in the context of President Musharraf’s speech it must also be noted that the resentment of the Baloch was not restricted to the three tribal Sardars he repeatedly referred to in the address. The sentiments of rage ran much deeper and were directed more strongly against the presence of the Pakistan military in Balochistan, she said.

The calling of a grand jirga in Waziristan, meanwhile, appeared to extend the government’s support to the tribal system rather than following the same ideal of eliminating it.

Asma said the HRCP and many political parties in the country remained acutely distressed over the situation in Balochistan. Misrepresentation of facts could do nothing to alter the realities as they existed or eradicated the human rights violations being carried out by the state agencies.

She assured the people of Balochistan that their brethren from all the provinces would join hands with them in their struggle against deprivation, discrimination and oppression.

Toba Tek Singh correspondent adds: The ruling party and opposition reacted in contrasting styles to President Pervez Musharraf’s address to the nation.

Awami Jamhoori Tehrik leader Advocate Rana Azam said in a press statement on Friday, the president made wrong claims regarding economic condition of the country.

He said the president gave the example of increase in the use of mobile phones and airconditioners but he ignored rising incidents of suicide due to poverty.

He said in fact the president was acting upon the agenda given to him by the imperialist forces as a result of which poverty rate was increasing.

PML-N president Chaudhry Amjad Ali Javed said submissive attitude of president in his speech regarding Indian allegations against Pakistan due to which the whole nation felt ashamed.

He stressed the need of restoration of true democracy in the country to resolve all political and economic crises.

District nazim Abdul Sattar termed the speech based on facts and said everyone praised the president.