Amnesty calls for probe over Balochistan violence

AI calls on Pakistan to investigate the alleged torture and killing of more than 40 political leaders and activists.


Afp October 26, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Rights group Amnesty International called on Pakistan Tuesday to investigate the alleged torture and killing of more than 40 political leaders and activists in the province of Balochistan.

Amnesty said the cases have occurred in the last four months against a backdrop of increasing political unrest and Pakistani military activities in the province.

Violence has surged this year in Balochistan and human rights activists have raised concerns about an increase in targeted killings in the province.

"The Pakistani government must act immediately to provide justice for the growing list of atrocities in Balochistan," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia Pacific director."Baloch political leaders and activists are clearly being targeted and the government must do much more to end this alarming trend."

Amnesty warned that bullet-ridden bodies of those who have been abducted, many showing signs of torture, are increasingly being found across Balochistan whereas previously bodies of the missing were rarely recovered. Victims' relatives and activists often hold Pakistan's security forces and intelligence agencies responsible.

Amnesty said a previously unknown group, Sipah-e Shuhada-e Balochistan, has also claimed responsibility for some of the killings. "The Pakistani government must show that it can and will investigate the Pakistani military and Frontier Corps, as well as intelligence agencies, who are widely accused of playing a role in these incidents," said Zarifi.

Hundreds of people have died since Baloch rebels rose up in 2004 demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region's wealth of natural oil, gas and mineral resources.

Amnesty warned that the rise in disappearances and bodies being dumped has aggravated political tensions and led to reprisal killings by Baloch groups.

On August 14, gunmen shot dead at least 16 people in Balochistan. Amnesty said 17 people, all from Punjab province, were killed and that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility.

In response to the report, the government said it was working to implement a package of political and economic reforms, which was unveiled last November in a bid to grant the province more independence and boost wealth creation.

"The democratic government is trying its best to protect human rights as enshrined in the constitution," said foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit.

There was no immediate comment from the military.

COMMENTS (2)

Abdulah Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply PAKISTAN PAINDABAD Responsible of all this situation are the "Sardars of the Balochistan" They only cared about their own interest, not the interest of the Common Baloch Pakistani People. They are making insurgency in the province just for the sake of their OWN POWER and long-lasting their SARDARI on POOR Baloch Pakistanis. They have no share in up-lifting the LIFE of Common People, They are JUST Playing in the HANDS of the ENEMIES of Common Baloch People and PAKISTAN as a whole. my baloch brothers, you must remember the order of the "holy prophet (pbah)" that we must have to be a part of the great country pakistan. this is the only way of our survival. i admit there are many problems with us, but the responsible is not pakistan, they are our own sardar. so we must find the solution of our all problems being a true pakistani, bcoz pakistan is ours. "pakistan meri jaan, sub sey pehly pakistan, pakistan zindabad" ABDULLAH BALOCH PAKISTANI
Salim Ansari | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan has become the most disliked country in the whole world. Inspite of all the troubles in Balochistan, why is there a constant lusting for Kashmir ? Do you think the world is blind and can not see the contradictions ? Compared to this Muslim on Muslim violence that plagues Pakistani society, Hindus in India are by far more cohesive and integrated. ( Observed this first hand on a recent trip to India )
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