Request High Court to take suo-motu action of the issue to ensure the safety of innocent Baloch being abducted openly
ZHOB: To achieve their notorious aims via kidnapping of high-profile personalities, a number of ruthless abductors’ gangs are still active in Quetta and other areas of Balochistan. Having powerful sanctuaries on this ill-fated province’s soil, such gangs being either facilitated by religious extremist organisations and armed separatist elements or patronised by their sympathisers present in common people ranks. Incidents of kidnapping for ransom are on constantly on the rise in Balochistan, especially in Quetta but unfortunately, the government is still showing hesitation to take appropriate steps to uproot it.
During an assembly’s session a couple of years ago, ex-chief minister of the province Dr Abdul Malik Baloch revealed that 78 gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom were operating in the violence-hit city. Not only have dozens of doctors been victimised over the last seven years but political leaders, businessmen and educationists are also their top targets. Balochistan Higher Education Secretary Abdullah Jan is a recent one, who was abducted in broad daylight at Quetta’s Sabzal Road area while on way to work. Though the Balochistan chief minister has taken notice of the kidnapping and directed the police inspector general to ensure Mr Jan’s early recovery, such crimes will continue to happen unless credible measures are taken to uproot this menace. I request the High Court to take suo-motu action of the issue to ensure the safety of innocent Baloch being abducted openly.
Muhammad Hussain Hunarmal
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2017.
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