The Frontier Corp (FC) of the Pakistani army attacked a house in Balochistan after pursuing suspected militants. After cordoning off the house they opened fire with heavy machine guns and rocket launchers. Five persons, including two minors, were killed inside the house. FC personnel also kept the local police away from the scene and when questioned as to why they attacked the house explained that the suspected militants had fired upon them from within the premises killing one of their number.
The incident of firing at the house of Mr. Ayub Jan Gichki, a political leader of the Balochistan National Party, started at 4 a.m. and lasted for almost for seven hours. The house was occupied by his family and during the attack his two children, Master Murad Jan and Zubiar Gichki were killed. Three other persons, Hasil, Hamal and Majid hailing from different towns of Kech district were also killed. The FC has not produced any evidence to show that these three men were in any way connected to militant actions. The children were nephews of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, former chief minister of Balochistan. During the past two years many activists of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) have either been disappeared or extrajudicial killed by the law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Murtaza Baig a spokes person of the FC, claims that some gunmen attacked a FC patrol on Pasni Road in Turbat and tried to escape from the scene. FC soldiers chased the assailants who entered a house in Overseas Colony, near airport road. After taking refuge in the house, the assailants opened fire and hurled hand grenades at the FC personnel. Baig also claimed that heavy arms and explosives were recovered from the house.
The irresponsible actions of the FC and its personnel have contributed to the deterioration of the law and order situation of Balochistan which is already reeling from the five military operations since the creation of the country. The federal government and the Pakistan army in particular have ruthlessly crushed the national movement of the Baloch people who want control over their natural and mineral resources. The FC has been given full control of the law and order situation of the province and police have been made subservient to them.
The incident at the house of Mr. Gichki was nothing less than extrajudicial and unjustifiable. When they knew that the suspects had taken shelter inside the house the FC should have acted responsibly and involved the local area police who could have told them about the inhabitants. This action is yet further proof that the FC acts without any regard for the law and the safety of the citizens. Opening fire on the house without ascertaining the identity of the inhabitants was a barbaric, unlawful and unethical act. The federation of Pakistan and its security forces want control of the land for their own purposes and have no respect or regard for the wellbeing of the people.
The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the government to immediately arrest all the responsible persons of the FC on murder charges for the killing of the two children when their house was bombarded by the FC members. The government should hold an immediate inquiry into this bloody incident by the judiciary and prosecute all the perpetrators. Proper compensation must be paid to the bereaved family. The government must also recall the FC from Balochistan immediately otherwise the situation in the province will never come under the control of the government.
The AHRC also urges the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take immediate action against the persons responsible for the killing of two innocent children and the extrajudicial killings of the three men. The officials of the FC responsible for this incident must be prosecuted and held to account..
