Balochistan is being transformed into a Police State
Decision to build military bases in Sui, Kohlu and Gwadar

  The federal and provincial Government have decided to build military bases in Kohlu, Sui and Gwadar. They will keep an eye on the activities of Marri, Bugti tribes and nationalists, tighten security measures around the inter-provincial borders of Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab and these bases will also be mobilized for a limited and decisive military operation in any area as and when their interests demand.

According to the details, it has been learnt through reliable resources that President General Pervaiz Musharraf and the Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali in the light of recommendation and suggestions made by the federal interior secretary, chief secretary and inspector General of police Balochistan and secretary home and tribal affairs. 

Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Yousaf has agreed in principle to increase the number of armed and civil forces for the purpose of exploration of Oil, Gas and other mineral resources, to provide security for vital installations in Balochistan, to dominate nationalist forces, Marri and Bugti tribes, to tighten security measures in order to curb the activities of the people fighting for their rights in Balochistan, and around inter provincial borders of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. 

These bases will carryout clandestine operations on fierce but limited scale to avoid the projection of their atrocious activities and evade the outcry of public and international community. The troops will carry out operations to pave way for Oil and Gas companies by crushing Marri and Bugti resistance opposing exploitation of Baloch resources. According to the sources, it has also been decided that in coming weeks exploration work will start. All kind of natural resources mineral, Oil and Gas have been declared assets of “Punjabi Pakistan”.  Daily Asaap Quetta, 1.9.03

Sweeping powers given to police: President amends law

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sunday amended Police Act of 1861, giving sweeping powers to the police system being introduced with the establishment of district governments in the country.

An order called 'Police (Amendment) Order 2001,' was issued late on Sunday night by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as the chief executive and in exercise of the authority assumed by him under Provisional Constitutional Order of 1861.

An official involved in the formulation of police reforms said the order had covered only few areas related to introduction of Zila Nazims and District Public Safety Commissions and a detailed ordinance would be issued within a month.

The official seeking anonymity, said these amendments were approved at a recent meeting presided over by the President. When asked whether the objections raised by the provincial governments had been addressed, he replied in the affirmative.

The police ordinance had been delayed because of the apprehensions expressed by the provincial governments. The federal government decided to introduce the required amendments before the swearing in of the newly-elected Zila Nazims and Naib Nazims, he said.

On a question whether an act can be amended through an executive order, he said under the provisional constitutional order it could be done.

The order provided for the setting up of District Public Safety Commissions in every district and Capital City District Public Safety Commission at every provincial headquarters.

The PSCs would be set up through a notification by the provincial governments in their respective provinces and it will consist of eight, ten or twelve members depending upon the size of the district.

Half of the members of the commission shall be elected by the Zila Council from its councillors and the other half, to be called independent members, will be nominated by the chief executive of the province.

Women have also been given representation on the PSCs as well as on capital city commissions. The order says: "As far as practicable, one-third of both the elected and the independent members of the commission shall be women."

There will be a separate panel of selectors at district level and at capital city level for the selection of independent members to their respective commissions.

The capital city selection panel will be headed by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court and district level selection panel will be headed by a sessions judge.

The selection panel will have two other members - a nominee each of the chief executive of the province and Zila Nazim for suggesting name of independent members. Any elected member or public servant, or a political party worker, have been debarred from getting appointed as independent member of PSCs.

A comprehensive selection procedure for independent members of PSCs has been sketched in the order. The district selection panel will invite applications and desirous candidates will be interviewed.

The Capital City District Public Safety Commission will consist of 12 members. Till the election of provincial assemblies, six independent members of the capital city commission will be appointed by the provincial chief executive. Three members will be elected from respective Zila Council and three from the provincial assembly.

It also spelt out the function of the proposed district PSCs. The PSCs at district level will set a procedure for the DSP to report against any unlawful or motivated order from any authority received by him or any officer subordinate to him.

The PSCs will also prepare policing plan and evaluate the "delivery of performance targets on quarterly basis and send half-yearly reports to all relevant authorities."

The blanket power vested in the police force included acquiring of any unclaimed property. "It shall be the duty of every police office to take charge of all unclaimed property and to furnish an inventory to the district superintendent of police who shall send a copy of the inventory to the district public safety commission."

The order also defined the relationship between the superintendent of police (SP) and Zila Nazim. The district superintendent of police would be responsible to the Zila Nazim. However, in case of any difference the SP can consult district public safety commission whose order would prevail.

A provision has been made for employing of additional police officers for specific areas on request of any citizen. In case of such a request, the cost involved for raising additional force would be borne by the requesting party.  

By Faraz Hashmi  Dawn 13.8.01
Levies to work under DAOs

QUETTA: After the introduction of district governments under the devolution of powers plan on August 14, the federal and the provincial Levies will perform their duties under district administrative officers (DAOs) and assistant district administrative officers (ADAOs).

The officials of provincial Home Department said on Thursday that DAOs and ADAOs would have the powers that were enjoyed by Deputy Commissioners, Political Agents, Assistant Political Agents and Assistant Commissioners in connection with the administration and control of Levies.

The officials of the Balochistan government claimed that the government would do its best to improve the existing police system, particularly that of the Levies, by providing them modern training facilities and latest equipment. 13.8.01

Balochistan is being transformed into a Police State

Massive increase in Police establishment in Quetta City to be ruled by 2 SSPs and 6 SPs

Under the new police system, eight more police stations are being established in the provincial capital, which is to be divided into Quetta east and Quetta west after the depravation of power to the grass-roots level.
This was announced by Inspector General of Police Balochistan Syed Kamal Shah while talking to newsmen here the other day.

Shah said that three new police stations would be established in Kharotabad, Jinnah Town and Nawan Killi for Quetta east, while five police stations would be set up in Marriabad, Kechi Baig, Mehmoodabad, Zarghoon and Brachabad for Quetta west.

He said that each zone would have its own senior superintendent of police (SSP). There would be three superintendent of police (SPs) under each SSP to perform duties as SP preventive, SP detective and SP investigation, he added.

These SPs would be in addition to other officers of similar rank such as SPs of Crimes Branch and SPs of Special Branch of Police.

"A proposal regarding the creation of the post of additional inspector general (AIG) Balochistan is under consideration," Shah said. In order to weed out white-collar crimes, DSPs would also be posted at all police stations, he added.

The IG Balochistan disclosed that about 111 FIRs were lodged against police officials, including a DSP, two SHOs, six ASIs, 10 head-constables, 23 constables and 73 junior clerks. He added that action against "these black sheep" was in progress.

He expressed his satisfaction over the law and order situation in the province and said that it was improving with the passage of time. He said that the crime rate reduced in the first six months of 2001 during which about 807 cases, concerning murder, kidnapping, motorcycle snatching and attack on government employees, were reported. This number was 982 in the first six months of 2000, he added.

Shah described the arms recovery campaign in the province as "successful". In a tribal society like Balochistan the people cooperated and deposited their weapons in a large number, he said. The police also seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition including 18 bombs, 70 Klashnikovs, 174 pistols, 23 revolvers, 42 rifles and thousands of rounds of different calibre, in raids conducted in various parts of the province.

To a question, he said that various measures were being considered for an improved performance of the Balochistan police.

It seems that the Balochistan Police department, after failing in expanding horizontally by including new areas to its control, has decided to expand vertically by creating numerous new vacancies in Quetta city.

However, the civic observers expressed apprehensions that the police will be able to control crimes even after this massive expansion. It will provide them new excuses to shift the responsibility to each other, a former councillor of QMC said requesting anonymity.

But in fact Balochistan is being transformed into a Police State where the public is going to be deprived of basic human rights and exploited on the name of security.