PAKISTAN: VBMP’s annual report on Enforced Disappearances

A Press Release from Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

PAKISTAN: VBMP’s annual report on Enforced Disappearances, Extrajudicial Killings

In 2016, the series of enforced disappearance, dumping of mutilated bodies and violation of human rights by security agencies continued without abating in Balochistan. It could not suspend due to apathy of national and international human rights organizations, justice providing bodies toward the burning Balochistan Issue.

The organization Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has registered 667 cases of enforced disappearance and 116 of recovered mutilated bodies in 2016 alone. The mentioned cases got registered through fellow human rights organizations, and the information was confirmed by the media. Statements in mainstream media noted that government officials admitted the arrest of thousands of people in Balochistan, but no details were given, including their whereabouts and fate. On 28 November 2016, the enforced disappearance report of 15 women with children at the hands of state forces was received. All the victims are the residents of Sajawal, situated in Bolan, and abductees belong to Sumalani tribe of Baloch.

The state institutes are using military power excessively in Balochistan to implement their intruded policies, and so they are committing worst human rights abuses. The organization VBMP continuously has been receiving reports and complaints about human rights violations across a broad spectrum. The state forces in operations abduct people in large numbers, they kill and dump bodies of those who were already arrested, extrajudicially kill, burn houses, torture women and children, trouble people on the basis of political affiliations and so on. State authorities also use duress and intimidation tools to halt the victims approach to the judiciary and protest against transgressions. In many areas, the people are being driven out from their innate zones, which are impacting on them negatively in sectors of health, social injustices, financial crises, education problem to their broods and so on.

The organization Voice for Baloch Missing Persons has interviewed some educated youth whose family members have gone missing. When they were asked that why not taking in protests and judicial process to get released their relative, then it was told that they have observed long futile and lengthy trials of missing persons in courts and they also witnessed protests as ineffective, and therefore they are dissuaded to do so. Further, they said that the security officials have warned them that if they go through judiciary and protest for release of their beloved, they and their missing persons will face dire consequences. In such conditions, they prefer silence.

The relatives of missing persons are totally disappointed from state institutes because not one of those has provided them justice and protection. If any relative strives for the release of their beloved one, the disappeared person is killed and their body dumped somewhere. In these circumstances, the dreaded victims have adopted silence; even they cannot exploit their rights vested in state constitution.

In 2010, the government of Pakistan established a commission to settle missing person’s issue, but it has failed in applying its objectives. The said commission dismissed 40 cases of missing Baloch, which had been proceeding for 3 to 5 years in Supreme Court of Pakistan where enough evidences were provided and then court reached to a conclusion that security agencies are involved in abduction and killing of people in Balochistan.

The government completely neglected the issue of enforced disappearance, mutilated bodies and human rights violation, though it is attaining considerable funds from international world for improvement in basic human rights in country. Therefore, the government is obliged to erect a body that observe human rights in country and further this has to report the national assembly, senate and United Nations about the subject. The government of Pakistan has established an organization titling National Commission for Human Rights Commission (NCHR); distressingly its performance is very dismal. The VBMP prescribed to NCHR that it ought to visit the affected areas of Balochistan and interview the victim families and find facts, and then compile a transparent report and it should provide this to United Nations and government of Pakistan, during a meeting with its head. The VBMP official also briefed the said body head about prevailing situations in Balochistan. Regrettably, the officials of NCHR disregarded prescription and made no effort to improve human rights conditions in spite of abundance in funds, protection and other resources as compared to other organizations. The discussed commission conducts meetings in luxurious hotels, it has opened an office in posh area of provincial capital Quetta but relies on merely statements appear in media and practically it did nothing so far. This commission is spending all funds granted by international world meaninglessly and on the other hand the government has exempted it from any kind of enquiry.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan is also giving less-importance to enforced disappearance and mutilated bodies case and it can be guessed from this that twice the case was heard during entire year of 2016. “Delay in justice is denied to justice” inscribed in constitution of Pakistan, but it is happening with relatives of Missing Baloch.

The organization Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has noted that civil society, journalists and human rights organizations are also responding improperly about human rights abuses in Balochistan which is letting on security agencies for applying blind power and perpetration of human rights here.

The VBMP once more urges the government of Pakistan for political resolve of Baloch Issue because it is purely political muddle, otherwise the use of erstwhile means will cause the situation to go from bad to worst.

The organization Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) appeals the superior judiciary, international community and human rights organizations to play their due role in suspension of ongoing atrocities, enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings and human rights violations in Balochistan.

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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) works towards the radical rethinking and fundamental redesigning of justice institutions in order to protect and promote human rights in Asia. Established in 1984, the Hong Kong based organisation is a Laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, 2014.

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