Naek takes notice of target killings in Balochistan

Thursday, November 25, 2010


Naek takes notice of target killings in Balochistan

*senator says target killings of Balochs gradually increased in last few days, govt has failed to establish writ in province

Staff Report

ISLAMBAD: The Senate chairman on Wednesday took serious notice over target killings in Balochistan and directed the leader of the house to ask the interior minister to get a report from the Balochistan chief secretary and inform the Upper House at the earliest.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Dr Abdul Malik of the National Party (NP) informed the House that target killings of Balochs had increased gradually in the last few days, while the government had completely failed to establish a writ in the province to maintain the law and order.

He said that six people had been killed on the first day of Eidul Azha and their bodies were thrown in different areas of the province, while six more dead bodies were found on Tuesday. He expressed serious reservations over the role of law enforcement agencies in Balochistan and termed target killings the failure of the government and its subordinate institutions in the province to control the worsening security situation.

Another NP legislator, Mir Hasil Khan Bazinjo, endorsed the view of his party fellow over the security situation in Balochistan and warned that if the government could not control the incidents of killings, it would increase hatred in the people of Balochistan against law enforcement agencies.

Senator Mohabat Khan Mari of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid alleged that five non-Baloch bodies had been found on Tuesday from the Turbat region, but law enforcers had kept silent on the issue, terming it “a deep conspiracy on the part of the law enforcement agencies”. He said a situation of civil war had been observed in the province, however the government and its forces had completely failed to establish their writ as well as control the incremental incidents of target killings.

Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek expressed serious concerns over the security situation in Balochistan and directed Leader of the House Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari to ask Interior Minister Rehman Malik to get a report from the Balochistan chief secretary over the issue and submit it in the Upper House at the earliest.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar strongly demanded the House recommend amendments in Article 295-B and C of the blasphemy law and expressed her reservations over the security of Aasia Bibi’s family in case President Asif Ali Zardari pardoned her death sentence.

She said there was a need to know why the number of blasphemy cases had increased into thousands after the 1980s.

“Laws and rules are formulated for provision of protection, however, if there are being practices in the wrong ways, then they should be revised,” she said.

Senator Khatu Mal Jeewan of the PPP endorsed the demand of his colleague and said that the blasphemy law had been used in support of personal rivalries as well as property disputes in rural areas. He demanded for an amendment in the blasphemy law, particularly the removal of clauses B and C of Article 295 of the said rule.

Responding to the amendment in the law regarding profanity, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl strongly condemned the demand of legislators and explained that this law was not only for minorities, but for all humanity.

He expressed concern over human rights organisations and asked, “Why don’t the human rights activists take a stance over drone attacks in the Pak-Afghan border areas? Why are human rights activists silent over the sentence awarded to Dr Aafia in the US?”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\25\story_25-11-2010_pg7_19