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HRCP fact-finding missions’ report 7
Introduction
The Balochistan issue
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is deeply concerned at the increasing number of
reports it has received from across the Country, over the last few of years, of disappearances and systematic
torture at the hands of security and intelligence agencies.
However, a number of such reports from Balochistan reflected a distinct pattern of persecution.
The human rights abuses in the province receive only limited attention as certain areas remain virtually
inaccessible to the national media and civil society, while many parts of the rest of the province are poorly
connected to major cities elsewhere in Pakistan. Human rights violations are, therefore, poorly documented
and patchily reported. HRCP, nevertheless, observed a pattern of consistent abuse of human rights in the
province and decided to send a fact finding mission in October 2003.
The October 2003 mission visited a number of towns, cities and villages in Balochistan to assess the
situation. In its report, HRCP urged closer monitoring of the rights situation and recommended a “breakthrough
in meeting Balochistan’s aspirations for provincial autonomy”. It also called for a revamping of the law and
order machinery and making the intelligence agencies accountable, and warned of the dangers of militarization
of the people. The mission noted:
“The dangers of militarization of the people cannot be exaggerated. Even a minimum degree of
respect for the history of Balochistan demands that any extension of defence establishments in the
province should be subject to double scrutiny and it should be undertaken only after convincing the
people of its justification. The need to reduce the military’s presence in jobs traditionally and rightly
reserved for civilians is even greater in Balochistan than in other provinces.”
HRCP regrets that since then the situation in Balochistan has been allowed to deteriorate, and all its
warnings have been ignored by policy makers. HRCP had hoped that by identifying some contentious issues,