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| Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) is Non-Profit Organization, working to unite and Organize all Baloch in North America, to expose the Occupation of our land (Balochistan) and exploitations of our resources by Pakistani and Iranian Governments, and to bring their Human Rights Violations in Balochistan into the world’s Notice. |
Baloch leader remanded
to police custody
Islamabad, Dec 26, 2006: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Friday remanded senior Pakistani opposition
leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal to police custody till January five for questioning on false charges of torturing and
kidnapping military intelligence personnel.
The president of the Baluchistan National Party was arrested last week and shifted to Karachi from his home
town of hub in southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday.
Anti-terrorism court judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti accepted a request from the police to hand over the custody of
Mengal for questioning.
Police said Mengal was wanted for allegedly torturing and kidnapping two intelligence personnel.
Security guards of Mengal had caught two motor cyclists following the car of his children in the defense locality of
Karachi a few months ago.
Mengal, who is campaigning against the government, says the motor cyclists were members of military`s
intelligence agency. The intelligence agent had filed cases of torture and kidnapping against Mengal and his four
guards.
An anti-terrorism court awarded life imprisonment to the four guards earlier this month and had declared Mengal
as absconder.
Bureau Report
HRCP stands by findings on Mengal trial
Lahore, 11 January 2007 :
LAHORE: A high-ranking HRCP office-bearer, who has served as a senator, law minister and attorney-general,
has reaffirmed his findings on the manner in which the trial of Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar
Akhtar Mengal is being conducted.
The description provided of the barred, metal structure, which can only be described as a ‘cage’, into which
Mengal was placed after being brought into the courtroom is shocking. He was not able to sit with his lawyers
and his small son, waiting outside, was not permitted to meet him till the end of the trial, when the judge allowed
him to do so.
The HRCP representative was present in the court after seeking the permission of the jail superintendent, and
did not ‘intrude’ into the courtroom as the government spokesman has alleged in his denial of the account of the
trail provided by HRCP. We stand by the statement of the HRCP representative, and regret that rather than making
any effort to address the issues highlighted, the government has resorted to making baseless allegations. As
such it has further damaged its own credibility.
HRCP also learned from Sardar Akhtar Mengal that he was being held in solitary confinement, was only allowed
into a courtyard for 30 minutes each day where he exercised alone and was being held separately from other
BNP activists. The fact that the BNP leader is being humiliated vengefully in this manner because he resisted
illegal actions by intelligence agency personnel is appalling.
HRCP denounces the holding of a trial within jail, and demands that to ensure a fair, transparent and just
process, representatives of bar associations and journalists be permitted to witness proceedings and Mengal be
permitted free access to his lawyers. HRCP will continue to closely watch the trial.
Asma Jahangir
Chairperson, Human Right Commission of Pakistan
Related Links:
to police custody
Islamabad, Dec 26, 2006: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Friday remanded senior Pakistani opposition
leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal to police custody till January five for questioning on false charges of torturing and
kidnapping military intelligence personnel.
The president of the Baluchistan National Party was arrested last week and shifted to Karachi from his home
town of hub in southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday.
Anti-terrorism court judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti accepted a request from the police to hand over the custody of
Mengal for questioning.
Police said Mengal was wanted for allegedly torturing and kidnapping two intelligence personnel.
Security guards of Mengal had caught two motor cyclists following the car of his children in the defense locality of
Karachi a few months ago.
Mengal, who is campaigning against the government, says the motor cyclists were members of military`s
intelligence agency. The intelligence agent had filed cases of torture and kidnapping against Mengal and his four
guards.
An anti-terrorism court awarded life imprisonment to the four guards earlier this month and had declared Mengal
as absconder.
Bureau Report
HRCP stands by findings on Mengal trial
Lahore, 11 January 2007 :
LAHORE: A high-ranking HRCP office-bearer, who has served as a senator, law minister and attorney-general,
has reaffirmed his findings on the manner in which the trial of Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar
Akhtar Mengal is being conducted.
The description provided of the barred, metal structure, which can only be described as a ‘cage’, into which
Mengal was placed after being brought into the courtroom is shocking. He was not able to sit with his lawyers
and his small son, waiting outside, was not permitted to meet him till the end of the trial, when the judge allowed
him to do so.
The HRCP representative was present in the court after seeking the permission of the jail superintendent, and
did not ‘intrude’ into the courtroom as the government spokesman has alleged in his denial of the account of the
trail provided by HRCP. We stand by the statement of the HRCP representative, and regret that rather than making
any effort to address the issues highlighted, the government has resorted to making baseless allegations. As
such it has further damaged its own credibility.
HRCP also learned from Sardar Akhtar Mengal that he was being held in solitary confinement, was only allowed
into a courtyard for 30 minutes each day where he exercised alone and was being held separately from other
BNP activists. The fact that the BNP leader is being humiliated vengefully in this manner because he resisted
illegal actions by intelligence agency personnel is appalling.
HRCP denounces the holding of a trial within jail, and demands that to ensure a fair, transparent and just
process, representatives of bar associations and journalists be permitted to witness proceedings and Mengal be
permitted free access to his lawyers. HRCP will continue to closely watch the trial.
Asma Jahangir
Chairperson, Human Right Commission of Pakistan
Related Links:
-
The Man in the Iron Cage
-
Mengal fears his detained son might be killed
-
KARACHI: Counsel seeks better jail class for Akhtar Mengal
-
ATC adjourns Akhtar Mengal’s trial
-
Mengal being mistreated in confinement: HRCP
-
SHC orders Mengal’s medical check-up
-
Mengal challenges in-camera trial
-
Human Rights group slams trial of former Baloch CM
-
Balochistan HC moved on release of Mengal’s 14 missing associates
-
HRCP says Mengal kept in iron cage
-
ATC adjourns Mengal case to 20th
-
Jirga called to discuss Mengal’s arrest
-
BSF demands release of Mengal