QUETTA- Human rights activist Asma Jahangir has appealed to the security and intelligence agencies to work with the purview of the country’s constitution. She feared that if the role of security agencies in Balochistan doesn’t change, it would be detrimental for the democracy.
It may be mentioned here that HRCP members comprising Asma Jahangir, Justice Malik Saeed Hassan, journalist Kamran Shafi, cultural critic and human rights activist Ghazi Salahuddin, researcher Nazish Brohi and HRCP editor Rafia Asim have visited Balochistan and met with officials, members of political parties, lawyers, representatives of various minority groups and NGOs in the wake of sad incidents of Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Bolan Medical Complex and Ziarat Residency.
Addressing a news conference flanked by former Lahore High Court Justice Saeed Ahsan, Kamran Shafi, Advocate Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani and Advocate Tahir Hussain on Tuesday, the former HRCP chairperson said that pro-people policies instead of a pro-security policy needed to be formulated. She said the killing of doctors and teachers was not a solution of the problem, adding if the atrocity is responded with atrocities, it would bear atrocious results in the end. “People have taken to the mountains due to various operations and excesses in the province,” Asma said adding that the resistant forces should discard their activities for a particular period.
She was of the view the kill and dump policies would further multiply the hatred. She said after the incidents of Sardar Bahudur Khan University, BMC and Ziarat, they have come here to re-evaluate gravity of the problem and met with the government officials, families of the missing persons, students and SBK administration and BMC doctors and nurses. She said it is a positive sign that the people have pinned hopes on the newly-installed government after the May 11 electoral process.
She said the HRCP had also visited Balochistan before the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti and acquainted the then government of the disastrous consequences of the military operation in the province. “Had the reservations of the civil society been given any heed, the situation would not have been so worst now,” she said adding that the HRCP would present its detailed reports on the recent incidents in Balochistan which would also incorporate police reforms, custom duties and other proposals.
She said after having meetings with the people of different walks of life, she came to a conclusion that the newly-installed government is a ray of hope for them. She said the double standard policies of the government and security forces should come to an end. She also recommended the provincial government to recruit human rights advisors.
Malik urged to take up amnesty scheme with Centre
Balochistan Assembly Speaker on Tuesday directed CM Dr Abdul Malik to take up the issue of Amnesty Scheme with the federal government.
Speaker Jan Muhammad Jamali, on a point of order raised by PML-Q’s Abdul Karim Nosharwani and Jaffar Mandokhil, said that according to the amnesty scheme, Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) had registered approximately 51,000 illegal cars and collected Rs 16 billion. But the Islamabad High Court had canceled the registration
PML N’s Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said the people of Balochistan had got their vehicles registered in accordance with law and the decision would affect them. “After paying the taxes, the vehicles have been declared legal but the court’s decision is beyond understanding. We will decide future course of action after discussing the matter with the law secretary.
The speaker said 51,000 vehicles had been registered and the FBR had collected Rs 16 billion in the head of taxes and now it had become a serious issue.
“The provincial government must take up the issue with the federal government and file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court decision,” Speaker Jan Jamali said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik has said bureaucrats and politicians are responsible for the destruction of all institutions in Balochistan, so both should work jointly to put the institutions on the right track.
Addressing senior government officers here on Tuesday, he said: “Balochistan belongs to us and we should show patriotism by performing our job with sincerity and honesty. “Unfortunately, all the institutions are at the brink of destruction and politicians and bureaucrats are responsible for this,” he told the officers.
The CM said he respected all senior officers, but his government would not tolerate corruption and nepotism at all and take action against absent officials. He directed the officers to attend the office on time because without their complete support it would be difficult to improve the performance of institutions. He said all the government officers should help one another to improve the performance of institutions instead of indulging in blame game.
“My government is committed to taking practical steps and it would further improve its performance,” he added. He pointed out education and health sectors were the topmost priorities of the government, besides keeping peace in the province. “It is not possible to bring positive change in the society without education, so the government’s top priority is education and the teachers have to play their due role in this connection,” he added. He said his government would try its best to provide all healthcare facilities to the people of Balochistan. “Doctors and other staff of healthcare should fulfill their duties so that this sector could witness improvement,” he concluded.