Home / News / Urgent Appeals / PAKISTAN: Two bodies found and eight persons remain disappeared after illegal arrests by military and paramilitary forces in Balochistan

PAKISTAN: Two bodies found and eight persons remain disappeared after illegal arrests by military and paramilitary forces in Balochistan

October 29, 2010

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-168-2010

 

29 October 2010

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PAKISTAN: Two bodies found and eight persons remain disappeared after illegal arrests by military and paramilitary forces in Balochistan

ISSUES: Arbitrary arrests, disappearances, abduction, military operation and extra judicial killings
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information that in recent days illegal arrests, abduction, killings and disappearances by the law enforcement agencies have increased in Balochistan province after the announcement by the Federal Interior minister that a lesson must be taught to Balochi insurgents by any means necessary. The Frontier Corps, a para military organisation, and the military conducted an operation in the sub district of Mashkay and used helicopter gunships on the civilian areas to destroy the hideouts of insurgents and arrest their leaders.

The bullet riddled bodies of two student activists were found and around 20 persons are missing following the operation. Two children are also missing after being arrested along with their father from Wahejo town during the search operation. A doctor was abducted from his clinic on suspicion of providing treatment to the injured insurgents and since then his whereabouts are unknown. The ministers and a member of the provincial assemblies held walk outs from the assembly proceedings against the military operation. There are reports that many houses belonging to the activists were burnt during the operation.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Cases of abduction and killing of children by the law enforcement agencies were also reported in the media. On October 18 a young man, Master Abdul Majeed, aged 14, son of Haji Mohammad Ramzan Zehri, a well known trader, was abducted, allegedly by the Frontier Corps, as claimed by his family, and on 24 October his body was found in Koshak river at Khuzdar district. There were bullet wounds on his head and chest. He was an activist of the Baloch Student Organisation Azad and was a student in class eight.

Another student, Master Mohammad Khan Zohaib, aged 14, also an activist of Baloch Student Organisation Azad, was abducted in July by plain cloth persons riding in a black coloured Sarf pickup, which is generally used for abduction by the state intelligence agencies. His bullet riddled body was found In Khuzdar, Balochistan province, on 20 October. His family members claim that he was arrested by the personnel from Frontier Corp (FC) for having links with militants who are fighting for the greater autonomy of the province.

From Khuzdar city of Balochistan, a practicing doctor, Fazal Zehri, was abducted from his clinic by unknown persons on 24 October. His relatives claim that he was abducted by FC personnel who suspected that he was providing medical aid to injured Baloch insurgents at his clinic. His whereabouts are unknown since then. The clinic of the doctor is now under siege of law enforcement agencies.

On 2 October, Mr. Ahmed Dad Baloch of the Republican Party was whisked away by FC personnel with the help of police from Gwadar zero point. Ahmed Dad Baloch was travelling along with his family to Karachi on the Javed Coach. When the coach reached Zero point officials of the state intelligence agencies and police stopped it and Ahmed Dad being was taken off in front of his family and shifted him to unknown location. It is the fifth incident of abduction of political activists from Gwadar, Balochistan, during past some months. Previously, Abdul Rehman Arif, Mahboob Wadhela, Ramzan Baloch, Saeed Ahmed were abducted by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies.

The FC and army conducted the operation in Mashkay to search for the hideouts of Baloch insurgents who are fighting against the military control on their province. The Mashkay is the home town of one insurgent, Dr. Allah Nazar, and to arrest him and his companions the FC searched each house in Mehi, a small town of the district, and arrested around 20 persons and since then their whereabouts are also unknown. It is alleged by the nationalist groups that these people were arrested and tortured to provide the whereabouts of Dr, Allah Nazar and his associates. Meanwhile in Mehi, the birthplace of Dr. Alah Nazar Baloch school teacher Raza Mohammed Baloch, his relatives Adam Baloch, Aziz Baloch, Rasool Bux Baloch. Bashir Ahmed Baloch, a tailor and his two sons of aged 9 and 13 are also missing after arrest.

The ministers belonging to the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Awami), according to the Daily Express Tribune of October 15, staged a walkout from the Balochistan Assembly against what they called a massive operation launched in Awaran district by security forces without taking the provincial government into confidence.

They claimed that the operation had been launched on the orders of Interior Minister Rehman Malik. On a point of order, the Minister for Agriculture, Asad Baloch alleged that security forces have been carrying out massive search operations and undertaking air strikes in Mashkay tehsil of Awaran district for the past two days. The operation was aimed at finding and killing the nationalist guerrilla leader, Allah Nazar, who is supposed to be leading an insurgency in Mekran and Khuzdar divisions. Another minister for Social Welfare, Mir Asghar Rind, said that they are violating the sanctity of homes and insulting the people during their search. The gunship helicopters have also shelled the mountainous areas of Mashkay.

They accused that the Pakistani military forced the shopkeeper to open their shops for searching and some shopkeepers, who were not present lost their shops, as the soldiers torched them. Houses of the members of Baloch Student Organisation (Azad) Fida Baloch, Zahoor Baloch, Haroon Baloch, Mustafa Baloch and Gul Hassan Baloch were burned down. Family members of these students, including women and children, were humiliated in public and severely beaten on the roads.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities to stop military operation and enforced disappearances in Balochistan province. Please urge the authorities to release all persons who have been arbitrarily arrested, disappeared and held incommunicado by the law enforcement agencies and stop extra judicial killings. Also demand to release the missing children and prosecute the law enforcement personnel who are responsible of abduction and killings of boys.

The AHRC is writing a separate letter to UN special rapporteurs on the Question of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearances calling for their intervention into this case.

To support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

PAKISTAN: The illegal arrests, abduction, killings and disappearances by the law enforcement agencies have increased in Balochistan province

Names of Disappeared Persons:
1. Master Abdul Majeed, aged 14 years, son of Haji Mohammad Ramzan Zehri, resident of Khuzdar, Khuzdar district, Balochistan province
2. Master Mohammad Khan Zohaib, aged 14 years, resident of Khuzdar, Khuzdar district, Balochistan Province
3. Dr. Fazal Zehri, aged 35 years, resident of Khuzdar, Khuzdar district, Balochistan Province
4. Mr. Ahmed Dad Baloch, Gwader, Balochistan province
5. Mr. Adam Baloch, resident of Mehi, Mashkay sub district, Awaran district, Balochistan Province
6. Mr. Aziz Baloch, resident of Mehi, Mashkay sub district, Awaran district, Balochistan Province
7. Mr. Rasool Bux Baloch, resident of Mehi, Mashkay sub district, Awaran district, Balochistan Province
8. Mr. Bashir Ahmed Baloch, a tailor by profesion,
9. Two sons of Mr. Bashir Ahmed Baloch aged 9 and 13 remain missing after their arrest from Balochistan Province

Houses of the following persons burned down
1. Mr. Zahoor Baloch
2. Mr. Haroon Baloch
3. Mr. Mustafa Baloch,
4. Mr. Gul Hassan Baloch

All are residents of Mehi, Mashkay sub district, Awaran district, Balochistan Province

Alleged perpetrators:
1. Frontier Corps
2. Pakistan Army

Date of incident: During the months of July, August and September 2010
Place of incident: Mashkay and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan province

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding continuous arbitrary arrests, disappearances, extra judicial killings and abductions by the Frontier Corp (FC) and army in the different parts of province of Balochistan.

I am also shocked to know that in sub district of Mashkay the gunship helicopters were used as reported in some sections of the media. This kind of act cannot be condoned by any civilized society where the gunship helicopters are used against the civilian population. Many persons, including minors, were arrested and are being held incommunicado by the supra constitutional forces.

I am also appalled that extrajudicial killings are continuing and in Khuzdar district of Balochistan two minors were killed extrajudicially by law enforcement agencies after their abduction.

I want to mention here the details of the atrocities conducted by FC and other law enforcement agencies in recent past;

On 18 October, 8 a young man, Master Abdul Majeed 14 son of Haji Mohammad Ramzan Zehri, a well known trader, was abducted allegedly by the Frontier Corp, as claimed by his family, and on 24 October his body was found in Koshak river at Khuzdar district. There were bullet wounds on his head and chest. He was the activist of Baloch Student Organisation Azad and was a student of class eight.

Another student, Master Mohammad Khan Zohaib, aged 14, activist of Baloch Student Organisation Azad, was abducted in month of July by plain clothed persons riding in a black coloured Sarf pickup, which is generally used for abduction by the state intelligence agencies. His bullet riddled body was found In Khuzdar, Balochistan province, on 20 October. His family members claim that he was arrested by the personnel from Frontier Corp (FC) for having links with militants who are fighting for the greater autonomy of the province.

From Khuzdar city of Balochistan, a practicing doctor, Fazal Zehri, was abducted from his clinic by unknown persons on October 24. His relatives claim that he was abducted by FC personnel who suspect him of treating injured Baloch insurgents at his clinic. His whereabouts are unknown since then. The clinic of the doctor is under siege of law enforcement agencies.

On 2 October, Mr. Ahmed Dad Baloch of Republican party was whisked away by FC with the help of police from Gwadar zero point. Ahmed Dad Baloch was travelling along his family to Karachi on Javed Coach, while coach reached to Zero point officials of state intelligence agencies and Police stopped the coach and Ahmed Dad being taken off from the coach in front of his family and shifted him to unknown location. It is the fifth incident of abduction of political activists from Gwadar, Balochistan, during past some months. Previously, Abdul Rehman Arif, Mahboob Wadhela, Ramzan Baloch, Saeed Ahmed abducted by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies.

The FC and army conducted the operation in Mashkay to search for the hideouts of Baloch insurgents who were fighting against the military control on their province. The Mashkay is the home town of one insurgent, Dr. Allah Nazar, and to arrest him and his companions the FC searched each house in Mehi, a small town of the district, and arrested around 20 persons and since then their whereabouts. It is alleged by the nationalist groups that these people were arrested and tortured to provide the whereabouts of Dr, Allah Nazar and his associates.

Meanwhile in Mehi, birthplace of Dr. Alah Nazar Baloch school teacher Raza Mohammed Baloch, his relatives Adam Baloch, Aziz Baloch, Rasool Bux Baloch. Bashir Ahmed Baloch, a tailor and his two sons of aged 9 and 13 were also missing after their arrest.

The ministers and members of the Balochistan assembly have protested against the military operation in Mashkay, sub district of Awaran, Balochistan province, wherein gunship helicopters and heavy machinery of army was used. The ministers belonging to the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Awami), according to the Daily Express Tribune of 15 October, staged a walkout from the Balochistan Assembly against what they called a massive operation launched in Awaran district by security forces without taking the provincial government into confidence.

They claimed that the operation had been launched on the orders of Interior Minister Rehman Malik. On a point of order, Minister for Agriculture, Asad Baloch alleged that security forces have been carrying out massive search operations and undertaking air strikes in Mashkay tehsil of Awaran district for the past two days. The operation is aimed at finding and killing a nationalist guerrilla leader, Allah Nazar, who is supposed to be leading an insurgency in Mekran and Khuzdar divisions. Another minister for Social Welfare, Mir Asghar Rind, said that they are violating the sanctity of homes and insulting the people during their search. The gunship helicopters have also shelled the mountainous areas of Mashkay.

They accuse that Pakistani military forced the shopkeepers to open their shops for searches and some shopkeepers who were not present lost their shops as the soldiers torched them. Houses of the members of Baloch Student Organisation (Azad) Fida Baloch, Zahoor Baloch, Haroon Baloch, Mustafa Baloch and Gul Hassan Baloch were burned down. Family members of these students, including women and children, were humiliated in public and severely beaten on the roads.

I am distressed that the FC and military are dealing with the Baloch people with bombardment and extra judicial killings with all impunity. No rule of law is seen in Balochistan. The police have become sub ordinate to the FC. Through the disappearances and killings the law enforcement agencies are behaving with the Baloch people as aliens.

I urge you to stop law enforcing authorities to stop military operation and enforced disappearances in Balochistan province. Also release all persons who have been arbitrarily arrested, disappeared and held incommunicado by the law enforcement agencies and stop extra judicial killings. Also I urge you to release the missing children and prosecute the law enforcement personnel who are responsible of abduction and killings of boys.

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
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. 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. 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-168-2010
Countries :
Issues :
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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.