56 cases of violence against women in 6 months

Aurat Foundation released a report which states at least 56 cases of violence against women in Balochistan.

Aurat Foundation released a report on Tuesday which states at least 56 cases of violence against women in Balochistan in the first six months of 2010.

Addressing a press conference, Programme Officer Ishfaq Mengal and other officials including Muhammad Haroon Daud and others said that 56 incident of violence against women took place in Quetta, Mastung, Chaghi, Kalat, Bolan, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Zhob, Noshki and Lorlai.

He noted that 20 out of the total women were killed in the name of honor killing four for domestic violence, five committed suicide, five were burnt with acid.

252 settlers killed in Balochistan since January

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on the same day informed the senate that militant outfits in Balochistan have killed as many as 252 settlers since January to July 2010, on behest of foreign hands, assuring the House to furnish photo evidences on militants' activities in an in-camera briefing.

The interior minister told the House that the parallel military forces raised by some Baloch leaders have killed three army officers, 21 officials of FC, 29 of police, 26 settlers from Punjab, 21 from Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa, 12 from Sindh and 112 from other parts of the country.

"Terrorism is pervading the country including Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan. Does it mean they all should raise liberation armies? Balochistan is part of Pakistan, then why the settlers are being killed there," he questioned.

He said there is no concept of violations, liberation forces, Lashkars and armies in political parties but contrary to that four such forces are operating in Balochistan, in what he said are being funded by the foreign elements poised to destabilize the country by disrupting peace in Balochistan, the hub of natural resources.