The Asian Human Rights Commission believes that the life of Balochi lawyer, Mr. Kachkol Ali is in danger, after he witnessed the abduction of three clients, shortly before they were found murdered in Balochistan province. Although the captors wore plain clothes, various signs suggest that they were from Pakistans military intelligence agencies. Please see our previous report at http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2009/3145/.
Local media reports say that state agents are now on the hunt for Mr. Kachkol Ali. His homes in Quetta and Panjgore city are under surveillance and his legal offices in Turbat city have been cordoned off by plain-clothed persons. He is currently in hiding. His fears are based on the fact that as reported previously by the AHRC a number of Balochistan men have disappeared after witnessing intelligence agents in action. The three men found dead on April 8, 2009 were themselves members of a committee probing into forced disappearances by the former military government. Please see http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2009statements/1984/
The lawyer had already reported that he believed Military Intelligence (MI) agents were to blame for the abduction of the three activists, and that he saw two unmarked vehicles belonging to the Frontier Core (FC), a Paramilitary force, following the cards that took away the three men.
Para military forces are currently deployed in every Baloch city, where they are curbing the freedoms of citizens, including women and children, who are trying to protest the murder of the activists. According to eyewitness reports, one female protestor has been baton-charged by police and FC members, and a number of women have been arrested in the city of Tump, where the police station was just burned down. It is quite clear that the illegal and often lethal acts by state agencies in Balochistan and the impunity they enjoy will only serve to further deteriorate the situation in the province.
The Asian Human Rights Commission calls for Mr. Kachkol Ali to be offered necessary protection, and for his evidence against those in the military to be heard. Those acting on behalf of the state should do so in full uniform. A dialogue must also be revived with Baloch leaders and their parties, and legal and restrained governance demonstrated by those in power. The answer to this crisis will not be found in state-sponsored murder and the general oppression of civil society.
