FC boss contests figure of missing persons

Says the list is exaggerated as those hiding in Afghanistan, India are also included.

QUETTA:

Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC) Balochistan Major-General Ubaidullah Khan has said the figure of Baloch missing persons is exaggerated as those who are hiding in Afghanistan and India are also included on the list.

He expressed these views while laying the foundation stone of a hostel in an educational institution in Loralai on Friday.

“The claims about the figure of missing persons are not accurate. Frontier Corps (FC) never whisked away any political activist in Balochistan nor is it involved in practices of enforced disappearances,” he said during his speech.

Meanwhile, Baloch nationalist leaders continue to accuse (FC) of being involved in enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBMP), an organization striving for safe recovery of Baloch missing persons, has put the figure of missing persons at over 8,000 and has stated it possesses complete details of 1,400 missing persons.

The major general said FC is not responsible for the disappearances and was working under the constitution and law.

Khan condemned allegations levelled against the FC for illegally kidnapping Baloch people. “Those elements carrying out kidnappings in the province might be powerful or influential but FC will not spare them,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2012.