HRCP report on Balochistan: people increasingly aspire for autonomy, good governance

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday launched a report submitted by its fact-finding mission on Balochistan. An HRCP mission visited the province between May 15 and 19 to assess the impact of recent measures taken by the government with respect to the province and to hear suggestions from stakeholders on finding a way out of the lingering crisis there.
Among other suggestions, the fact-finding team made the following observations: People's aspiration for autonomy and good governance is the most fundamental issue in Balochistan and the urgency for ending military's dominance has increased with time. Every effort must be made to ensure that authority is not only exercised by Balochistan's representatives but is also seen to be so exercised.
The HRCP said that a positive change "can be smelt in the air despite the fact that many of Balochistan problems seem to be intractable". The revival of some interest in talking things over, HRCP noted, must not be allowed to abate. A climate of frank discourse must be guaranteed through the government's affirmative and proactive actions. Prospects for a general election leading to people's genuine representatives' rise to power could make for stability and peace in the province. This increases the need to guarantee free, fair and democratic elections. Failure on that count could irretrievably snap the Balochistan people's ties with the rest of Pakistan.
The most fundamental of all rights, the right to life, should be given the sanctity it deserves and all efforts of the state should be focused on securing that right. Those taking away that right should be pursued with the diligence that reflects a conscientious society's respect for life, HRCP recommended.
HRCP hopes and expects all political parties in the province to express their condemnation of unlawful killings of members of any ethnicity or religious belief by any actor in the same manner as Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party had voiced their disgust through words and actions at the killing of settlers and as other political parties had at senseless killings of Hazaras.
HRCP also recommended that enforced disappearances and dumping of mutilated bodies are the biggest causes of resentment and alienation in a large part of Balochistan. Anyone accused of any offence should be tried in accordance with the law with due process and not disappeared.
The Supreme Court hearings held in Quetta to consider the situation in the province are a positive development. But that alone is not much to celebrate. The cases registered against at least a few security officials on charges of involvement in enforced disappearances are only a good start and nothing more. These should be followed through in such a manner that the state's desire to unearth any wrongdoing is manifestly apparent, HRCP maintained. Additional measures need to be made to maintain peace during the coming elections. All political parties should be actively encouraged and helped to participate in elections. Election observers from Pakistan and abroad should have access to all areas to monitor all polls-related aspects.
Without peace, economic and industrial activity would not exceed the bare minimum. Challenges for industry and agriculture both should be addressed simultaneously to avoid any further loss of livelihoods for the people and to generate employment opportunities. It is imperative that criminals are vigorously pursued and brought to justice in every case. The people's confidence should be revived in the state's ability to protect them from criminals rather than abandoning them to perpetually pooling money and negotiating release of their relatives from their captors, HRCP said.
Hoverer, there are conflicting views on whether there should be a single law enforcement agency in the province and if so which it should be. Advocates of the Levies system value the fact that they are a local force. The trust in police is not where it should be. An agency that includes the positive attributes of both forces may be the answer. But the change must be made in consultation with the people under a gradual timeframe, HRCP maintained.
Those engaged in human smuggling should be dealt with through inter-provincial collaboration, and proper investigation and prosecution. The root causes should be addressed in order to prevent human smuggling. If there is any desire to stem the rot, the free flow of weapons in Balochistan must be choked as the first step. The people need to be reassured of the state's keenness and ability to protect them and an across the board deweaponisation drive initiated.
HRCP also recommended that the criticism of the role of the media in the Balochistan crisis is entirely justified. The media has failed to keep the people informed, as the province plunged into crisis. It (the media) must set about remedying that. Journalists should be responsible and unbiased in reporting and should follow up on stories, instead of just being content with 'breaking news'. Meaningful measures should be taken to protect journalists from intimidation and violence by any actor, HRCP said in the fact-finding report.