During a hearing on the alarming law and order situation in the south western province of Pakistan, Balochistan, on May 14, 2012, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, observed that ‘— the FC (Frontier Corps) was present in a whopping 95% of the missing persons– cases’.[1] He made those remarks after a few videos involving FC personnel, were played in the apex court to identify actors behind the recent surge in cases of the missing persons. In a similar hearing on May 11, 2012, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Balochistan Police Hamid Shakeel informed the Supreme Court about the CCTV footage showing FC men picking up three missing persons from a local hotel.[2] Major General Obaidullah Khattak, the Inspector General (IG) FC Balochistan, specially summoned to depose before the court, denied the involvement of his forces in this particular abduction case but these denials hardly help in rubbing off widespread perceptions and allegations that place the FC at the centre of the controversy. Most Baloch activists accuse the para-military force of high-handed and extra-judicial approach in dealing with nationalist insurgents and political activists. People at large as well as politicians often attribute murders and abductions of Baloch nationalist leaders to this federal para-military force, which, in public perception, is a conflict-driver rather than force dedicated to prevent conflict and violence. Some federal intelligence agencies such as the Military Intelligence and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have also often faced criticism for their extra-judicial role in forced disappearances (popularly known as missing persons) or target-killings of vocal Baloch nationalists demanding autonomy for Balochistan. The total number of missing persons in Balochistan varies. According to Balochistan Government some 729 persons are missing in the province. But according to rights groups– estimates, the number is much higher i.e. close to 2, 000. The videos placed before the Supreme Court, the observations judges of the highest court have been making during the hearing, also reflect the widespread perceptions of the law enforcement agencies.
Role of Frontier Corps in Balochistan
Balochistan covers 44 percent of Pakistan total land mass. Policing such a huge geographical but mostly thinly populated area, has always been a security and management challenge for the federal and provincial governments. That is why some 95 percent of the area – designated as ‘B areas – is policed by the semi-government force called Levies. This force comprises about 14, 000, while only five percent of the provincial territory, comprising big urban centers is under the direct control of the Police and Balochistan Constabulary both totaling 29,800.
The over-arching security force deployed in the province is the Frontier Corps, a 50,000 strong para-military organization led by the military. Ever since the military operation launched in August 2006, the role of the FC has been expanding, and consequently the target of public and Baloch nationalist criticism as well. The ensuing struggle for control between nationalist militants and law enforcement agencies created a ‘security state’ phenomenon, whereby federal law enforcement agencies became central not only to security but also to the political governance and overstepped their authority in going after militants. That is why frequent complaints of forced disappearances (missing persons), extra-judicial killings and abuse of power by the FC-led security apparatus.
Baloch nationalist leaders like National Party, Balochistan, vice president, Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo are continuously pointing towards the malicious role of federal law enforcement agencies in enabling and perpetuating crime in the province. During a discussion forum at CRSS in February 2012, he unequivocally underscored that 50 percent of the issues in Balochistan can be addressed within days by withdrawing FC from the province. Such an overwhelming role is played by the FC in defining and underwriting security order in the province?
If public perceptions were an indicator, the FC has then certainly emerged as a prime conflict driver ´ a state actor that, in the eyes of the public at large, is brutal, excessive and extra-judicial in dealing with non-state actors i.e. separatist Baloch nationalists and those opposed to the presence of the security forces in the province.
[1] Azam Khan, ‘Enforced Disappearances: CJ says 95% of cases involve the FC’, The Express Tribune, May 15, 2012.
[2] ‘Enforced disappearances: Pressure builds on FC in missing persons– cases‘, The Express Tribune, May 12, 2012.