International

Human Rights group urges Pak to end Taliban attacks

Islamabad: Human Rights Watch on Monday said that Pakistan government should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of candidates and political activists at risk of attack from the Taliban and other militants,.

On March 18, a spokesperson for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban, TTP) declared elections part of an “un-Islamic democratic system which only serves the interests of infidels and enemies of Islam,” and warned voters to stay away from political rallies by the major coalition partners in the outgoing government.

Particularly at risk have been the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP).

Pakistan’s interim government, which took over March 17, after the end of the government’s five-year term, should provide protection to individual candidates at high risk, Human Rights Watch said.

It should also facilitate election campaigning by political parties targeted by the Taliban by providing adequate security for rallies and campaign meetings.

The interim government should redeploy civilian law enforcement to sensitive areas, particularly in Quetta, in insurgency-wracked Balochistan province, Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on the Afghan border.

The Pakistan military, which is officially under civilian rule but has long operated beyond its control, should follow the directives of the interim government to provide security in a nonpartisan manner wherever necessary, Human Rights Watch said.

Show More

Related Articles

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker