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PAKISTAN: Five more disappeared persons are extrajudicially killed in Balochistan

March 28, 2011

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-069-2011

 

28 March 2011
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PAKISTAN: Five more disappeared persons are extrajudicially killed in Balochistan

ISSUES: Extrajudicial killings; abduction; disappearance; impunity; rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the bodies of five disappeared persons have been found in different areas of Balochistan. The bodies bore bullet wounds and marks of torture. Five victims were abducted from Balochistan province and Karachi, Sindh province at different times but their bodies were found in different areas of Balochistan province. Witnesses stated that they were abducted by persons both in uniform and in plain clothes that identified themselves as state intelligence persons.

Disappearances in Balochistan have become the routine work of the intelligence agencies and Frontier Corps (FC). Since last year the law enforcement authorities have introduced a new trend in which they kill the disappeared person extra judicially so as to destroy any possible evidence of their wrong doing.

CASE NARRATIVE:

On 20 March 2011 Mr. Hameed Shaheen date of birth (31), son of Haji Ghous Bakhsh, holding CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) No. 54400-4155145-9, was on the way to Karachi for his medical check-up by bus. Security personnel in both uniform and plain clothes stopped the bus near Sona Khan Police Station Quetta. Mr.Hameed Shaheen was abducted. He was a resident of Muslimabad of Sariab Quetta. On 22 March his bullet riddled body was found at Sardar Karez area of Quetta in Balochistan province. He was the former chairman of the Baloch Student Organization (BSO).

Two more bullet riddled bodies, including that of a leader of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO Azad), were found from different parts of Balochistan.

On February 2011 Fareed Baloch abducted allegedly by personnel of state agencies. He was student of Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology Khuzdar and Zonal president of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO Azad). On 27 March his bullet riddled body was found at Ferozabad nullah of Khuzdar District some 360 km away from Quetta of Balochistan province. There were also marks of torture on his body.

Mr. Saleh Muhammad, son of Nuroz Khan was abducted from a passenger van by plan cloth persons in Bariat area of Awaran, on 27 March his bullet riddled body was found in a mountainous area of Awaran district of Balochistan.

Another two more bullet riddled bodies of illegally detained Baloch youth were found in Winder area near Hub industrial town of Balochistan province. The victims were identified as Arif Noor Baloch and Muhammad Nawaz Marri, both were abducted by intelligence agencies.

On 31 October 2010 Arif Noor, son of Noor Muhammad Baloch was abducted in presence of his mother, sister and other family members by Karachi police and intelligence agencies from his residence in Karachi of Sindh province, he was an employed as a 16 grade officer in Gwadar Development Authority (GDA). He suffered an accident and after that he came to his home in Jaffer Aziz apartment Garden East Karachi where his parents and other family members are living. After two months bed rest he was kidnapped. On 23 March his bullet riddled body was from Windar area near Hub industrial town of Balochistana province. The second body was of Muhammad Nawaz Marri found just inches away from Arif Noor Bloch’s body. His body was bore marks of extreme torture and mistreatment and there were bullet wounds to his head. On 5 January he was abducted from near Lasbella while he was returning to his home from work.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Extrajudicial killing of disappeared persons in Pakistan has become routine since it started in 2010. Since the beginning of 2010 to date more than 115 persons have been were killed extra judicially. Many people have died at the hands of the security forces in extrajudicial executions and deaths in custody, and thousands of people are reported to have been subjected to enforced disappearance.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities to conduct inquiries into the incidents of extra judicial killings of disappeared persons who were allegedly abducted by the law enforcement agencies and prosecute those who are responsible, and release all disappeared persons.

Please note that the AHRC has written a separate letter to UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances and Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution calling for their intervention into this case.

To support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,

PAKISTAN: Five more disappeared persons are extrajudicially killed in Balochistan

Names of victims:
1. Mr. Hameed Shaheen, son of Haji Ghous Baksh, former chairman of Baloch Student Organization (BSO Azad), resident of Muslimabad of Sariab Quetta, Balochistan province
2. Mr. Fareed Baloch, Student of Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology Khuzdar, zonal president of Baloch Student Organization (BSO Azad)
3. Mr. Arif Noor, son of Noor Muhammad Baloch, was an employee as 16 grade officer in Gwadar Development Authority (GDA)
4. Mr. Saleh Muhammad, son of Nuroz Khan, resident of Balochistan province
5. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Marri, resident of Balochistan province

Alleged perpetrators: Law enforcement agencies
Date of incident: 2011
Place of incident: Quetta, Khuzdar, Windar, Balochistan province

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the extra judicial killings of five disappeared persons who were abducted from Balochistan province and Karachi, province of Sindh by police and intelligence agencies in the year 2010 and 2011.

I am appalled to know that the persons who were allegedly disappeared by the law enforcement agencies were killed extra judicially so that no evidence should be found for their abduction and disappearance.

On 20 March 2011, Mr. Hameed Shaheen date of birth (31), son of Haji Ghous Bakhsh, holding (Computerised National Identity Card) CNIC No. 54400-4155145-9, was on the way to Karachi for his medical check-up by bus. Security personnel in both uniform and plain clothes stopped the bus near Sona Khan Police Station Quetta. Mr.Hameed Shaheen was abducted. He was a resident of Muslimabad of Sariab Quetta. On 22 March his bullet riddled body was found at Sardar Karez area of Quetta in Balochistan. He was the former chairman of the Baloch Student Organization (BSO).

Two more bullet riddled bodies, including that of a leader of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO Azad), were found from different parts of Balochistan.

On February 2011 Fareed Baloch abducted allegedly by personnel of state agencies. He was student of Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology Khuzdar and Zonal president of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO Azad). On 27 March his bullet riddled body was found at Ferozabad nullah of Khuzdar District some 360 km away from Quetta of Balochistan province. There were also marks of torture on his body.

Mr. Saleh Muhammad, son of Nuroz Khan was abducted from a passenger van by plan cloth persons in Bariat area of Awaran, on 27 March his bullet riddled body was found in a mountainous area of Awaran district of Balochistan.

Another two more bullet riddled bodies of illegally detained Baloch youth were found in Winder area near Hub industrial town of Balochistan province. The victims were identified as Arif Noor Baloch and Muhammad Nawaz Marri, both were abducted by intelligence agencies.

On 31 October 2010 Arif Noor, son of Noor Muhammad Baloch was abducted in presence of his mother, sister and other family members by Karachi police and intelligence agencies from his residence in Karachi of Sindh province, he was an employed as a 16 grade officer in Gwadar Development Authority (GDA). He suffered an accident and after that he came to his home in Jaffer Aziz apartment Garden East Karachi where his parents and other family members are living. After two months bed rest he was kidnapped. On 23 March his bullet riddled body was from Windar area near Hub industrial town of Balochistana province. The second body was of Muhammad Nawaz Marri found just inches away from Arif Noor Bloch’s body. His body was bore marks of extreme torture and mistreatment and there were bullet wounds to his head. On 5 January he was abducted from near Lasbella while he was returning to his home from work.

I urge you to conduct inquiries into the incidents of extra judicial killings of disappeared persons who were allegedly abducted by the law enforcement agencies and prosecute those who are responsible for the extra judicial killings. The FC and other Para-Military forces should be withdrawn from the province of Balochistan and make safe recovery of all disappeared persons.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9204801/9214171
Fax: +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk

2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111 +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk

3. Mr. Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfraz_yousuf@yahoo.com

4. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk

5. Mr. Nawab Aslam Raisani
Chief Minister of Balochistan
Chief Minister House, Quetta
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 81 920 2240
Tel: +92 81 449582 / 440661
E-mail: mirlashkari@yahoo.com

6. Mr. Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi
Governor of Balochistan
Governor House Balochistan,
Quetta- Balochistan province,
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 81 920 2992

7. Chief Secretary
Government of Balochistan
Quetta, Balochistan province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 81 9202132
Email: chiefsecy@balochistan.gov.pk


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
AHRC-UAC-069-2011
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.