|
|
Distr. GENERAL E/CN.4/1999/39/Add.1 Original: ENGLISH |
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Fifty-fifth session
Item 11 (b) of the provisional
agenda
CIVIL AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING QUESTIONS OF:
DISAPPEARANCES AND SUMMARY
EXECUTIONS
Extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions
Report of the Special Rapporteur,
Ms. Asma Jahangir, submitted
pursuant to Commission on Human
Rights resolution 1998/68
Pakistan
177. The Special Rapporteur has learned that large-scale violations to the right to life are continuing to occur in Pakistan. Reports claim that many killings are committed by the police and members of armed terrorists groups, who are allegedly acting with the full support and protection of the Government. During the period under review, law enforcement officials, security forces, paramilitary rangers, intelligence agencies and police officers have all been accused of committing extrajudicial executions. Many of the victims include members of political parties, such as the Muttahida Quami Movement, who were identified and singled out by the assailants.
178. Allegations were also received concerning the extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions of women. Sources reported that women in Pakistan continued to be victims of criminal violence and were killed for harming the family's or clan's honour by choosing their own marriage partners. It was further asserted that in many cases, tribal councils held quasi-judicial trials and sentenced women to death.
Communications sent
179. The Special Rapporteur sent one urgent appeal to the Government of Pakistan on behalf of Ayub Masih, a 27-year-old Christian convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death on 27 April 1998 (12 May 1998).
180. Concerning killings committed by law enforcement personnel, paramilitary rangers or local police, the Special Rapporteur transmitted five allegations on behalf of the following persons: Abdul Wahab, who was reportedly killed on 17 July 1998 by two gunmen who emerged from a mobile post of the paramilitary rangers; Salim Akhtar, Fakhre Alam and Syed Mohammad Nazr Ul Huda who were all reportedly killed by a police constable of Garden police station on 19 July 1998; and Mansoor Hussain, who was said to be killed on 26 August 1998 by members of the Gharibbad police station.
181. Concerning killings committed by law enforcement personnel and/or paramilitary rangers together with members of the Haqiqi group, the Special Rapporteur transmitted eight individual allegations on behalf of the following persons: Abul Qasim, Mohammad Afzal, Amanullah, Mohammed Aslam, Mohsin, Azhar Mahmoud, Mohammad Azeem and Mohammad Adil Sheikh. Furthermore, 10 unidentified persons were said to have been killed on 12 August 1998 by eight gunmen who fled in the direction of the paramilitary rangers headquarters after carrying out the executions.
182. Concerning deaths committed by members of the Haqiqi group with the supposed support and protection of the Government, the Special Rapporteur transmitted 21 individual allegations on behalf of the following persons: Syed Naveed Hasan Naqvi, Dr. Mansoor Ahmed Siddiqui, Mohammad Yusuf, Mumtaz Hussain, Zainul Abdeen, Mohammed Salim, Noor Alam, Zaheer Ahmed, Mohammad Akbar Khan, Mohammad Moeen, Mohammad Nasir, Mohammad Tahir, Zeeshan, Imran, Saeed-Ur-Rehman, Ahtisham Uddin, Shaukat, Riasat Hussain, Mohammad Jameel, Mohammad Sohail and Mohammad Ismail. The aforementioned were all killed in the area of Karachi.
Observations
183. The Special Rapporteur is alarmed at the reports of almost daily killings of people in police encounters and the lack of proper inquiry by the Government into such killings. The Special Rapporteur further regrets that the Pakistani Government has sent no replies to the allegations transmitted during 1995, 1996, 1997 or 1998.