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HRCP fact-finding missions’ report 13
lists through HRCP sources.
The FC, while denying they had surrounded the area, did admit the FC was acting to destroy the eight
identified ‘furrari’ camps in these places.
The development plans of the government are being challenged by the local tribes. They accuse the
government of laying down infrastructure for the mobility of the military in order to access their lands and take
over their natural resources. The construction of the Talli-Kahan road is one such example. Along this road
there is no sign of development or of settlements, but it is being given priority in terms of development.
HRCP, however, found evidence that the Baloch militants had planted mines in the area. It denounces
the use of mines and is deeply disturbed by this information. It urges all parties involved in the conflict to desist
from planting mines and discontinue this dangerous practice forthwith.
A member of HRCP’s team met four women from Nawab Akbar Bugti’s family. They were present
when rockets were fired at the house on March 17 ,h , 2005. One of them received some injuries, when the
women and children were trying to escape. Subsequently, the team was able to visit Dera Bugti and assess the
facts for themselves.
Complaints by journalists
Almost every journalist that met the HRCP team complained of threats that they had received from
intelligence agencies. A few of them narrated incidents in which they were picked up and then released a day
later, after having been warned. Journalists complained that persons claiming to be representatives of the secret
services threatened to kidnap their family members unless they succumbed to their demands.
Human rights violations
Arrests and arbitrary detentions
The Interior Minister is quoted in the press as acknowledging having made 4,000 arrests in connection
with the Balochistan situation, while speaking to the press in Turbat. This matter was later raised by a leader of
PML(N). 4 . The charges against a number of these persons have not been disclosed to their families. In some
cases it is not known where they are being detained, and furthermore the government has not disclosed the
identies of persons arrested during these operations.
Other government members have given contradictory accounts of the number of persons arrested in
Balochistan.
Extrajudicial killings
HRCP considers that the present situation in parts of Balochistan including Dera Bugti and Kahan, can
be described as armed conflict. On the basis of credible reports it is in a position to conclude that noncombatants
have been killed. On more than one occasion, the use offeree was disproportionate and excessive
and employed indiscriminately. The HRCP team was able to investigate the facts of the bombing and use of
force by the security forces on December 17th, 2005.
The government has denied all reports of bombing civilian populations and continues to insist that there
is no unusual army action. According to them, it was a “law and order” situation, created by a handful of
miscreants, which was being dealt with. The government’s position cannot be sustained by the evidence made
available to HRCP. The team was also able to speak to an independent journalist, Nadeem Syed, the
correspondent for’ Dawn’ at Multan. He had visited an area adjoining the district of Kohlu and Dera Bugti – a