Reposted from The Baloch Hal | March 14, 2011 | Story

by Yousaf Ajab Baloch

A prominent human rights defender Naeem Sabir has paid a heavy price for defending human rights in Balochistan. When the scene is that of a battlefield, definitely, performing such a crucial duty in such a situation is an act of bravery and a sign of commitment to one's profession. It is perplexing why people working for human rights, peace and harmony are being target killed in cold blood and deprived of their own professional rights. Why are the perpetrators not brought to book? Importantly, why don't human rights organizations, whose own members are killed, take any significant action? They are content with uttering a few words of condemnation.

No doubt, human rights violations and the murder and abduction of human rights activists is increasing in Balochistan day by day. A report by Human Rights Watch for 2010 spotlights the increased attacks on human rights defenders, organizations and institutions. Those who defend human rights face extreme abuse, harassment, imprisonment, intense intimidation and even death. Pakistan ranks high in the index of countries that are accused of human rights violation in the world whereas the circumstances for human rights activists in Balochistan are far worse.

Naeem Sabir, who was the district coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and a leading social worker, was killed due to his objective reporting of the violations of human rights in Khuzdar, which remains one of the sensitive parts of the volatile Balochistan province. Naeem Sabir made a great great contribution to HRCP in terms of documenting cases of disappearances and extrajudicial killings of political workers to aid the legal process.

Mr. Sabir performed his duty well and helped the HRCP, but one wonders what the HRCP did in return to defend this and hundreds of other activists who have been voluntarily assisting the human rights watchdog. I believe the mere expression of anguish and issuance of a media statement does not compensate for the colossal loss of an extraordinary man like Naeem Sabir. This tragic incident makes manifest the fact that lives of all human rights activists working in Balochistan are at risk.

Prior to the murder of Mr. Sabir, another senior activist of HRCP had been abducted. According to a press release by HRCP, Balochistan chapter, "government agents" abducted human rights activist Siddque Eido from Pasni. In its press release HRCP Chairman Dr. Medi Hassan said that they had "serious concerns" that personnel would subject him to severe torture and that his life was in danger.

Unfortunately, this was the sole effort HRCP made for the release of Siddque Eido. A similar press release had been issued over the murder of Naeem Sabir. The role of HRCP as a leading human rights organization is objectionable vis a vis Balochistan.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), on the other hand, in a strongly-worded statement on the murder of Mr.Naeem Sabir has urged the government to establish a judicial commission to probe theses incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice. AHRC also called for the murder case of Mr. Naeem Sabir to be properly investigated and justice provided to his family and loved ones.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) also disclosed that Mr. Sabir had reveled to AHRC that he had been receiving continuous death threats for several months from persons believed to be from intelligence agencies.

Unquestionably, human rights activists, journalists and political activists find themselves in a miserable and uncertain situation. Security forces and their supporters are a great threat to the them. None of them can perform their duty freely and smoothly. Political activists are at risk because of the abductions and security agency "kill and dump" policies. This has become a burning issue among human rights organizations.

Recently, Amnesty International issued a statement and expressed reservations regarding the continued human rights violations and extrajudicial murders of journalist, human rights defenders and political activists in Balochistan. In addition, the Asian Human Rights Commission also expressed similar concerns.

It is an irony that the government of Balochistan also rejects the human rights organizations and negates incidents taking place in Balochistan. Human rights activists and journalists are the only ones who are balanced and fairly report human rights violation in Balochistan, while the government of Balochistan connives in the activities taking place in Balochistan against Baloch youth.

According to my point of view, the government and those elements involved in the killing and dumping of the Baloch people consider human rights activists a great obstacle in their path because human rights activists are the sources of reports to foreign organizations such as Amnesty International and the Asian Human Rights Commission, which subsequently pressure the Pakistan government to stop the human rights abuses. Therefore, human rights activists are kidnapped or killed in order to get rid of those who disturb the status quo. So, these champions of the human rights are compelled to pay a heavy price for defending the rights of the marginalized sections of the society.

Additional copy-editing by crisisbalochistan.com