QUETTA: A judicial tribunal formed by Balochistan government to investigate the discovery of 17 mutilated bodies from two mass graves in Totak area of Khuzdar district has said in its report that no official can be held responsible for the incident.

The tribunal headed by a senior judge of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Noor Mohammad Maskanzai, said in the report that security forces, intelligence agencies and the government were not found involved in the case.

“No one accused Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and the government in their statements recorded before the tribunal,” said the report made public by the provincial government on Tuesday.

Security forces, intelligence agencies and the government were not found involved in the case

In January, 17 bodies were found in mass graves at two places in Khuzdar district. Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch took notice of the development and announced that a judicial tribunal would be established to investigate into the matter.

Only two of the bodies have been identified because 15 others have gone beyond recognition. The provincial government sent samples from the bodies to Islamabad for DNA tests, but the results are still awaited.

The report submitted to the government by Justice Maskanzai also contains some suggestions.

The tribunal recommended that action should be taken against some officials who were posted in Khuzdar district from March to December 2013, for showing negligence.

The report said circumstances suggested that tribal elder Shafiqur Rehman Mengal and some of his companions could be held responsible for some disturbances in the area as some witnesses had recorded statements against them.

However, the report maintained, the investigation found no evidence on the basis of which any official or any other person could be held responsible for the incident. Because the protection of life of people was the responsibility of the government, action should be taken against some officials for showing negligence, the report said.

“The officers posted in those particular areas... failed to fulfil their responsibilities and evidence shows that they committed negligence in performing their official duties.”

The tribunal also suggested some short- and long-term measures for improving security situation in the province. It said civil administration and intelligence agencies should be on the same page while taking measures to improve law and order in the province.

They should exchange information for stopping activities of terrorists and take immediate action against them. Cameras should be installed and latest equipment and technology should be introduced for intelligence gathering.

Police, Levies force and other law-enforcement agencies should adopt modern techniques for investigation.

The tribunal urged the government to remove all barricades and eliminate ‘no-go areas’ established by some people in Totak and other parts of the district.

The government should ensure adequate deployment of security personnel in the areas.

Checkposts should be set up in Totak so that the area does not become a ‘safe haven’ for militants. A message should be given to all people that there is no room for private armies and militias.

The tribunal said the government should hold talks with political forces so that issues could be resolved peacefully and a peaceful environment could be created in the area.

Meanwhile, Shafiqur Rehman Mengal has denied that he or any of his companions is involved in the Totak incident or any other disturbances in the area.

How could he be held responsible for the incident when the tribunal was itself saying that there was no evidence against any person. He said allegations against him were baseless.

Nasrullah Baloch, the chairman of the Voice for Missing Baloch Persons, has rejected the report and claimed that security agencies were involved in the kidnapping and killing of missing people.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014