Senate body concerned at rising incidents of police encounters: Interior Minister summoned

Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on Monday expressed grave concern on rising incidents of police-encounters in the country, particularly in Punjab, saying that law enforcement agencies adopt 'Sri Lankan-Model' in which innocent people are being killed in the name of police encounters.
The committee unanimously condemned granting of permission to police to kill criminals during police encounters. The committee said several innocent people were killed during fake encounters in Karachi and Balochistan. The government would not let the police to continue the practice. The committee termed the police encounter as Sri Lankan-Model. The Sri Lankan government had adopted the same strategy against terrorists, which are now following by Pakistani law enforcement agencies, putting the lives of thousands of innocent people at risk. It is feared that the police might misuse its power in the name of fake encounter, the committee added. The committee summoned the Interior Minister in next meeting to brief the committee on rising ratio of police encounter.
The committee meeting held in the parliament with Senator Afrasiab Khattak in the chair and discussed detail of persons killed in police encounters during the last six months in the Punjab. Additional Inspector General (IG) Punjab, Khan Baig, while giving details of police encounters during last six months, said that total 208 police encounters occurred from January-July 2012, in which 23 policemen got martyred and 174 criminals were killed, however five innocent persons were also killed in these encounters. He said that 135 out of 208 encounters were registered of which 14 were announced in the police favour by the concerning courts, while 121 cases are still pending.
About the alleged blasphemy case against minor Christian girl, Rimsha, the committee asked the IGP Islamabad, Binyameen that under what circumstances the case was registered against Rimsha. However, the committee observed that such sensitive cases have been registered by the police in consultation with their high-ups.
Banyemen informed the committee that the police registered case against Rimsha due to public pressure, as hundreds of people encircled the police station, so the police left with no choice, but to register an FIR. He said that the girl was released on bail on Friday.
The committee members directed the IGP to ensure that no FIR to be registered under pressure in future. The committee appealed the government to carry out legislation in order to halt the misuse of blasphemy law in the time to come. Meanwhile, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights informed the committee that the government ratified seven human rights convention, but it has not ratified International Enforced Disappearances Convention and Geneva Refugee Convention.
The Chairman committee said that the committee would ask the government to sign both the conventions. He said, "Pakistan is a sole country, which gives refuge to million of Afghan people in 80s during Afghan -Russia war. Pakistan government is responsible for providing education to Afghan children under the Geneva Convention, if it signs."
Senator, Hari Ram on point of migration of Hindu community to India from Sindh province, informed the committee that Hindus are just visiting India for pilgrimage purposes or meeting their relatives, who later return to their homes in Pakistan. Blaming media for wrongly portraying issue of Hindus migration to India, Senator Hari Ram said that around 200 yatris have retuned their homes, while the remaining would also be backed soon.