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PAKISTAN: Protests against disappearances
deserve public support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2006
AS-087-2006
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
PAKISTAN: Protests against disappearances deserve public support
There have been many disappearances in Pakistan's political history. The
present disappearances are occurring in the Sindh and Balochistan
provinces of the country, largely by law enforcement agencies. In
response, Pakistani citizens have organised two protest rallies against
these disappearances. One of these will be held in Karachi, Pakistan on
April 28, 2006 organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
(HRCP). It will begin at 3pm from the Karachi Press Club to Regal Chowk
Saddar, Karachi. The second one will be held in London at 10 Downing
Street on April 30, 2006 under the banner of the World Sindhi Congress and
Baluchistan Action Committee. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
supports these protests by civil society groups. Since Pakistan has been
ruled by a military government, disappearances of persons have increased,
particularly of those activists working on human rights issues.
A press statement issued by the HRCP noted that several cases of
disappearances, illegal arrest and kidnapping had occurred recently,
particularly in the Sindh province. It is believed that these individuals
are picked up by law enforcing agencies and their family members often
have no news of them for many months, or even years.
According to reports, more than 30 people in Sindh have recently
disappeared after arrest. The Sindhi people are fighting for their share
in the government. While the Sindh province earns 72 per cent of the
country's total revenue, it only gets 19 per cent of this. Its share of
water has also been reduced from 23 to 11 per cent. Job opportunities are
denied to Sindhi people while their lands are being grabbed by the armed
forces under the guise of "service for the nation".
A joint press release by the World Sindhi Congress, Baluchistan Action
Committee, Baluchistan Rights Movement, World Sindhi Institute and Sindhi
Baluch Forum has stated that the Pakistani military is carrying out a
merciless operation against the Balochi people killing hundreds of
innocent and displacing thousands of civilians. Many Balochi and Sindhi
political activists are being targeted; they are tortured severely for
crimes they have not committed, their houses are surrounded and at times
even their water and electricity supplies are cut.
Balochistan is the poorest province in Pakistan, but has rich mineral
resources, natural gas and petrol. The federal government has not been
paying royalty to the province on these natural resources for several
years, and nor is it giving the province its revenue share in accordance
with the constitution. Military operations have been ongoing in
Balochistan since 2001, with many reports of bombardments and firing in
several areas to punish those resisting against the military. While the
federal interior minister has stated that around 4000 Balochi people have
been arrested, the HRCP as well as other groups claim that a much larger
number of people have disappeared. Their whereabouts are not known.
The AHRC condemns such killings and disappearances of political and social
activists. Such acts are unconstitutional and illegal, as well as inhuman.
The AHRC has previously issued urgent appeals on the disappearance of a
Balochi television managing director, a political and nationalist leader
of the Sindh province, and other Balochi and Sindhi political activists
and students. These persons are targeted for their political affiliations
by law enforcement authorities. The AHRC has learned however, that there
are many cases in higher courts of the government denying such arrests.
Witnesses of such arrests are threatened when they attempt to testify.
The AHRC therefore demands that a judicial commission should be
established to investigate the cases of disappearances and serve redress
to the victims. The commission should comprise of high courts judges. All
groups must continue to voice their protests against disappearances and
other human rights abuses, and call for the prosecution of the
perpetrators.
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About AHRC The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional
non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues
in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Source: Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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