ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Defence said on Wednesday there should be zero tolerance on human rights violation in Balochistan.
An in-camera session of the committee was held at the Parliament House to discuss the country’s security situation, particularly in Balochistan. MNA Dr Azra Afzal Pehchuho presided over the meeting.The committee said the movement of foreigners and their activities in Balochistan should be regularised and monitored properly. “A close interaction between intelligence agencies and the government of Balochistan may be ensured to improving the law and order situation in the province,” it said.Officials from intelligences agencies and the provincial Home Department apprised the committee of the history of unrest and involvement of foreign hands in the violence in Balochistan.
Briefing the committee, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) director general proposed talks with separatists in Balochistan to resolve the issues of the province. According to sources, the IB chief said the situation in Balochistan was “dangerous” due to the interference of internal and external forces.The committee was told that different groups are involved in kidnapping incidents in the province. The officials denied the involvement of Pakistan Army in the kidnapping and killing of Baloch people. The committee recommended that the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package should be immediately implemented in its letter and spirit. It said that a quarterly report on implementation of the package should be shared with parliamentarians.
The NA defence body also directed law enforcement agencies not to overstep their domain and mandate to maintain law and order in the province. It said more efforts should be made for the recovery of missing persons.The committee condemned Tuesday’s brutal killing of Shias in Kohistan and offered fateha for the departed souls.Gunmen disguised in military uniform hauled 18 Shias off buses on Tuesday and shot them dead in cold blood in the usually quiet Kohistan region. Police said the attackers flagged down buses, climbed on board asking passengers for their identities, then dragged out the Shias and shot them. The committee also expressed its anger over the absence of chiefs of two prime intelligence agencies – the Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) – in the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Shagufta Sadiq, Begum Ishrar Ashraf, Talat Mahesar, Syed Haider Ali Shah, Sardar Talib Hassan Nakai, Jawad Hussain, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Capt (r) Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Khural and Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan.Additional secretaries of the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Division; National Crisis Management Cell director general, Balochistan home secretary and A1G (Sihdh) were also present. – Daily Times
