ISLAMABAD: The 3rd meeting of the Commission constituted in light of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order to probe the resentments of Baloch students was held here at Parliament House on Friday with Member National Assembly Sardar Akhtar Mengal in the Chair.
The members of the Commission took serious note of the issue of missing persons and expressed resolve for going deep into the matter of missing Baloch students and finding a way out so that the grievances of the Baloch students were ended, said a news release.
Senators Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Kamran Murtaza, Mian Raza Rabbani, ex-senator Afrasiab Khattak, Member National Assembly Asad Umar, Prof Dr Asma Faiz, Former Chief Secretary Balochistan, Nasir Mehmood Khosa participated in the meeting. Secretary Ministry of Interior, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights, Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, Executive Director HEC and Vice-Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University were also in attendance.
The meeting discussed in thin and thick; the harassment; enforced disappearances of missing persons. The members of the Commission took serious note of the issue of missing persons and express resolve for going deep into the matter of missing Baloch students and finding a way out so that the grievances of the Baloch students are wiped out.
Executive Director HEC briefed the Commission that upon receiving complaints of racial harassment several steps are being taken inter alia, including checking of unauthorized entry into the universities, enforcement of the harassment policy, pre-cautioning the administration of all the universities and establishment of facilitation desks inside the universities for redressal of such complaints.
Vice Chancellor of the Quaid-e-Azam University apprised the Commission regarding the alleged harassment of the Baloch students and a case of a Missing Baloch Student enrolled in the University. He added that several steps have been taken to ensure that such incidents won’t happen again in the future including the circulation of the Code of Conduct among the faculty members, the Constitution of a dedicated cell for the Baloch students and disciplinary action was taken against the official involved in such activity.
He submitted that during his tenure of 4 years, being VC of the university only one case of a missing student was reported, adding that the university has thousands of Baloch students who are performing well and that no one is indulged in activities leading to violence. He stated that all concerned ministries and divisions were officially informed about the incident as well.
Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice briefed the Panel on the existing laws about the issue of missing persons/enforced disappearances in line with the overall framework of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. Senator Raza Rabbani observed that strong political will is the need of the hour to address the issue of missing persons.
Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights briefed on the proceedings held so far in the Islamabad High Court about the matter of missing persons. From April to 3rd Oct 2022, 7 hearings have been held, adding that a list of 31 missing Baloch students was given to the ministry through the council of Baloch students of which the Ministry of Interior was made aware of.
After a detailed discussion, the Chair sought a detailed report from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Human Rights and Ministry of Law and justice, regarding the steps taken by the respective ministries towards the resolution of the issue of racial profiling, harassment and enforced disappearances of Baloch students. It was also decided to invite Secretary, Ministry of Defence for a detailed briefing on the subject in the next meeting.
