Lahore, February 6: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concern at the death of two men in Sibi on Saturday when security forces personnel opened fire on demonstrators protesting against the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s kin in Karachi last week.

The Commission said in a statement: “HRCP regrets very much the deaths and injuries among demonstrators in Sibi when FC personnel opened fire on them. Media reports suggest that around 300 people had blocked the National Highway to protest the killings and had prevented an FC convoy from passing through.

“Such use of force plays into the hands of those who want the situation to aggravate in the province, if further aggravation is possible. HRCP reiterates the people’s right to peaceful protest and emphasises that the authorities must exhaust all possible options before resorting to the use of lethal force and only do that to prevent violence and bloodshed that cannot be prevented otherwise. Furthermore, in view of the charged environment in the province these things must not be seen as mere law and order issues. HRCP welcomes the government’s decision to hold a judicial probe and very much hopes that unlike earlier probes the findings of this one would be made public.”

Zohra Yusuf

Chairperson