Wahid Qamber Baloch’s relative seeks justice

Lal Bibi, whose husband Wahid Qambar was allegedly picked up by intelligence agencies and security forces, is optimistic that the “new chief justice” - as she describes Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry – will do justice and produce her missing husband.

Hailing from western Balochistan, Lal Bibi has searched for her husband extensively but has been unable to find him despite the government proclaiming his capture on March 14.

Lal Bibi alleged that her husband was “kidnapped by intelligence agencies”. “Neither did [the government authorities] register a case against Wahid, nor did they substantiate their allegations. Security forces played judge, jury and executioner,” she said. She says the detention of her husband is illegal, extra-constitutional and inhuman.

“Even the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed in the media that my husband is in government custody. But I wonder why he is not being legally tried and brought to justice if we are made to believe that he is a criminal,” she added.

Lal Bibi also filed a petition in the Balochistan High Court (BHC) against the Quetta Military Intelligence (MI) commandant, Kulli Camp commandant, Turbat Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Turbat Frontier Corps (FC) commandant, Tump police station house office (SHO) and Balochistan Interior Department.

“The process of the case at the BHC has been very slow and no headway has been made yet,” Lal Bibi said. When her petition was heard by a division bench comprising BHC Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malgani, the BHC issued notices to all government agencies and departments concerned to tell the BHC about Qambar’s whereabouts. Since then, however, several hearings have gone by with only extensions granted to the government.
Lal Bibi said she feared for her husband’s life and well-being, since “many of those who mysteriously disappeared never returned, and those who were lucky enough to return came back with serious incapacitations”.

After all other efforts failed, she said, she had finally decided to “beg the chief justice, international human rights organisations and the media to help bring the case into light”. 6.8.07