IT is very sad to see the former chief minister of Balochistan, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, being treated in a draconian manner. It has almost been two years since he was arrested on a charge of detaining two personnel of the Military Intelligence who were harassing his children on their way to school.
Akhtar Mengal did what probably any father would do to protect his children and had held the men to inquire as to why they were following his children. This act was seen as something so terrible that the ATC awarded 45 years’ imprisonment to the two bodyguards of Akhtar Mengal.
His trial has not even begun despite being in jail for almost two years although, according to my knowledge, cases in the ATC are wrapped up in seven weeks.
A thought comes to mind: if detaining MI personnel would land a person in the cellar for 45 years, then what about the thousands of Baloch men who were detained for nine to 10 months and some who are still languishing in the military camps? Who is going to compensate them and how?
WASHANE
Karachi
http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/08/letted.htm#5 |
