Pakistan dismisses Amnesty report on tribal areas

Islamabad, Dec 19 (IANS) Pakistan Wednesday dismissed an Amnesty International report which claimed human rights of people in the northwest tribal areas were being violated by the armed forces and the Taliban.

The report alleges millions of people are locked up in perpetual lawlessness in the tribal areas, where human rights abuses are carried out by the armed forces and the Taliban are beyond the reach of justice, Xinhua reported.

“It is unfortunate that the report does not accord due understanding and support for the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by the Pakistani security forces in the fight against the menaces of terrorism and extremism,” the foreign ministry said.

The ministry’s spokesperson said that the Amnesty International tends to overlook the human and financial sacrifices of the government and people of Pakistan in the global fight against international terrorism.

“We have lost thousands of soldiers and law enforcement personnel. The loss of civilian lives in terrorist related violence runs into tens of thousands,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding the contribution of Pakistan’s armed forces has been widely recognised by the international community.

Amnesty International alleged that thousands of men and boys have been detained by the armed forces and those people are held in secret places of detention and never seen again.

Pakistan’s military authorities have already rejected allegations levelled against the Pakistan army by Amnesty International in its latest report titled “The Hands of Cruelty” – Abuses by Armed Forces and Taliban in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas.”

IANS 2012-12-19 23:02:08