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| ‘Pak failed to prevent attacks by groups acting on its soil’ | | |
Agencies
LONDON : Slamming Pakistan for "failing" to prevent deadly attacks - both inside and outside the country - by elements operating from its soil, a global rights watch has asked it to cooperate with "neighbours" in curbing activities of terror groups.
Amid mounting pressure on Pakistan to dismantle terror groups operating from its territory following the Mumbai attacks, Amnesty International has asked all institutions of the country, including the military and the ISI to "cooperate with neighbours and international community in curbing the activity" of such groups.
"... Pakistani authorities, including the intelligence agencies, have failed in their duty to protect people inside and outside the country from attacks by groups operating out of Pakistan’s territory," Amnesty said.
The body also criticised the Government, led by slain former Premier Benazir Bhutto’s PPP, for failing to conduct full and transparent investigation into her assassination, as Pakistan gears up to observe the first death anniversary of the leader.
"Providing accountability for her assassination is necessary to help the Pakistani people come to terms with this national trauma", the body said.
Her widower, President Asif Ali Zardari, has said that consolidating and strengthening the rule of law will be a lasting legacy in memory of his wife.
However, he has done little to reverse the failed counter-terrorism practices of his predecessor, General Pervez Musharraf, Amnesty said.
"In 2009 the Pakistani Government and its international supporters need to focus on strengthening the rule of law and reinforcing an independent judiciary, accountability for the military and intelligence agencies," it said.
The first anniversary of Bhutto’s killing marks a year of failure by Pakistan’s leaders to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for this and other political and civilian killings, the human rights body said.
Condemning the assassination, Amnesty asked President Asif Ali Zardari to conduct full, transparent, and independent investigations into political assassinations, including that of Bhutto, and other unlawful killings and suicide attacks.
"A fitting legacy for Benazir Bhutto and others who have suffered as a result of these attacks would be proper investigations and fair trials of those responsible, in line with international standards," it said.
Criticising the practice of "enforced disappearances" in the country, Amnesty said the detained people should either be charged with a recognisable crime or released.
Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy is still grounded in unlawful practices such as arbitrary and secret detentions, enforced disappearances and renditions of Pakistani and foreign nationals to third countries, Amnesty said.
It also said that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies should be brought under adequate oversight and accountability be provided for state officials suspected of being responsible for ordering or carrying out human rights violations.
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