Senate chairman asks for reports on extrajudicial killings

Report sought on extrajudicial killing of a young man in Karachi and five Chechens in Quetta.


Zahid Gishkori June 11, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek directed the ministry of interior and home ministers of Sindh and Balochistan to submit detailed reports on the repeatedly televised extrajudicial killing of a young man in Karachi two days ago and of five Chechens in Quetta by law enforcement agencies in May. The move came after journalists protested to highlight the safety of their colleagues who filmed these incidents.


Naek directed the federal and provincial interior ministries to protect the lives and property of journalists in his ruling, referring to Article 9 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to life.

The Senate chairman said journalists, who are being threatened by secret forces, would be able to register their complaints in light of this ruling.

Naek took the step after journalists boycotted parliamentary proceedings to express solidarity with the reporter and cameraman of a private TV channel, who filmed the incident. They have been forced to leave Karachi after receiving death threats from law enforcement agencies.

Senators across party lines protested over the absence of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who did not turn up to brief them on the extrajudicial killing, despite several requests by the Leader of the House.

Federal Health Minister Riaz Pirzada, Senator Jahangir Badar and MNA Imtiaz Safdar Warraich assured journalists of their support and conveyed the journalists’ concerns to Speaker National Assembly and Senate chairman. Naek asked Leader of the House Nayyar Hussain Bokhari to direct the authorities to provide security to Zahid Khokar, the reporter, cameraman Abdul Salam and photojournalist Jamal Tarkai, who captured these incidents on film. He said, “Immediate measures should be taken to protect journalists whose lives are in danger.”

Speaking on a point of order, PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said, “The Supreme Court has taken steps to safeguard citizens’ lives instead of the Ministry of Interior whose job it is. The Frontier Corps and Rangers in Balochistan and Sindh are playing with the lives of innocent people.” Article 9 of the Constitution states, “No person shall be deprived of life or liberty, save in accordance with the law,” he added.  Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Prof Ibrahim and PPP Senator Lashkari Raisani seconded Rabbani’s contention that the Interior Minister was shying away from justifying his statement on the floor of the House. Malik had stated that the boy killed by the Rangers was a robber. Addressing the Senate chairman, Rabbani said, “You should pass a ruling against him for deliberately missing the proceedings despite repeated demands by lawmakers.” The government failed to check target killing in Balochistan and Karachi, observed Leader of Opposition Senator Maulana Ghafoor Haidri.

JUI-F senator Ghulam Ali demanded DG Rangers should be imprisoned after this gruesome incident. “Officers should be assigned for patrolingl rather than deputing ordinary soldiers in sensitive areas,” he suggested. During the proceedings, business was delayed because of lack of quorum when MQM Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashahdi started a debate on the Finance Bill 2011-12 moved by Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh on June 3. The ANP also continued its boycott on the third consecutive day.

Concluding the proceedings, Naek requested PML-N senators and JUI-F senators to visit his chamber to resolve the contentious appointment of the leader of the opposition. A row erupted over the controversial nomination of JUI-F senator Ghafoor Haidri as leader of opposition. PML-N, JI and PML-Q have boycotted the budget session since June 3. Friday’s meeting between PML-N and JUI-F in the Senate Chairman’s chamber remained inconclusive.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Missy | 12 years ago | Reply what exactly is the fault of DG Rangers in this entire incident!! why the hell should he be imprisoned or whatever!! it was the soldiers fault not DG rangers fault!! or the IG police!!
Grieved | 12 years ago | Reply People knew only of the animal slaughter houses, but now are appearing human slaughter practices - Karachi killing of Sarfraz - a daring demonstration of savagery.
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