PAKISTAN: A young man is shot dead by police at a wedding party

Dear friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received reports that a young unarmed man was shot dead during his cousin’s wedding party by a police officer in Panjgore district, Balochistan province last month. The Assistant Sub Inspector accused of the shooting has defended his own authority regarding who he does and does not choose to shoot. Despite protests, no case against him has been lodged by police. 

CASE DETAILS: (According to the victim’s relatives and lawyer) 

At around noon on May 31, 2009, police chased a car of armed men into a village, where the men disbanded after a shoot out. The village was Mohalla Gharibabad, UC Chitkan, Panjgore, and a wedding party was taking place nearby. At the first sign of shooting the wedding guests took shelter in nearby houses. Spectators have noted that though the armed men ran off in the opposite direction, police continued to shoot in the area. 

According to our reports, after some time a number of older guests came out of hiding and asked the leading officer, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Mohammad Ismail, to stop shooting in the air; since the men had appeared to have left. Then Mr. Noor Amad Baloch, 32, a cousin of the groom’s also came out to ask what was happening. He noted that there were children around and asked the officers to stop firing. According to eye witnesses ASI Ismail responded by shooting him in the head from around 25 metres away. Noor Amad Baloch was taken to hospital at Panjgore city where he was pronounced dead. 
Villagers started to protest outside Panjore hospital, and were told by officials that a case would be lodged against the officer. However nothing was done. When civilians and a number of lawyers gathered to complain at Panjore police station later that day the ASI was defiant. He allegedly announced that his pursuit of criminals should not be interfered with in any way and that his judgment should not be questioned. He also allegedly made threats against anyone who filed against him. No case has yet been lodged. Local residents believe that he was responsible for another unnecessary shooting in the same area three months ago. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 

In poor, remote areas like this one, impunity is a continuing problem. The rule of law here is not strong, and due process is not followed; police officers may generally act as they wish without fear of punishment. Because of this the line has blurred between law enforcement and vigilante acts of violence. Civilians also tend to take matters into their own hands due to a lack of faith in the system. 

Balochistan has hosted various strong military operations since 2001 to control a resistance movement for greater autonomy. This fight against ‘terrorism’ is often used to justify killings, beatings and abductions that take place outside of the law, and while more than 3000 persons have been reported killed in the fighting, according to our reports a further 4000 missing persons remain unaccounted for. The general situation, and other incidents of impunity by the authorities, are laid out in a statement made at the tenth session of the Human Rights Council by the AHRC’s sister organisation, the Asian Legal Resources Centre: ALRC-CWS-10-15-2009. 

As the law enforcement system continues to break down, displays of violence by the police are becoming increasingly erratic. This is the second time in four months that a wedding party has been attacked in the province by officials; in February 13 people were killed. AHRC-STM-026-2009  

It should be noted that sections 300, 301 and 302 of the Pakistan Penal code have provisions for qatl-e-amd (intentional murder). Those charged with this can be punished with death or imprisonment for up to 25 years. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the authorities demanding that they initiate a probe into the killing of Noor Amad Baloch by a policeman, and prosecute those responsible. An investigation into the breakdown of the law enforcement systems in Balochistan must be swiftly instigated before more lives are needlessly lost. 

The Asian Human Rights Commission has already written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions urging his intervention into this case. 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER