Landmine explosions claim 81 lives during last 5 years in Balochistan
Staff Reporter:
Landmine explosions across Balochistan have claimed 81 lives and injured 168 people during the last five years. This was revealed by home minister Balochistan, Mir Ziaullah Langove while answering a question submitted by an opposition member during the provincial assembly session on Wednesday.
Zainat Shahwani, a female legislator from the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) had put the question before the minister with regard to the data about the exact number of victims of landmine explosions in the province.
Session of the Balochistan Assembly resumed here with Speaker Qudoos Bizenjo in the chair.
Landmine explosions have claimed 28 lives and injured 101Â people in Dera Bugti, the worst-hit district of the province. Kohlu district stands second in terms of human losses. Home department’s statistics submitted in the Balochistan assembly show that blasts have killed 18 people and injured 20 others in Kohlu, 11 killed in Sibi and injured 18 others.
Explosions also left 168 people injured in various parts of the province
Meanwhile, addressing a crowded press conference heirs of the victims who lost their lives in terror attacks in Balochistan have demanded of the human rights organizations, media and intelligentsia to raise voice for their loved ones also. Dr. Fareed Raisani, Dr. Mushtaq Umrani, Alam Zaib Marri and others lamented that some elements have launched a campaign against frontier corps and other national institutions under the cover of protest over the cold-blooded murder of Hayat Baloch. They expressed grief over the killing of Hayat Baloch and said that the inspector general FC South has already handed over the accused person to police. They said banned outfits have shed the blood of innocent people in various parts of Balochistan but the human rights organizations have not raised voice for those who lost their lives in terror attacks.
Human rights organizations must break their criminal silence over crimes and terrorism committed by banned groups in Balochistan, they demanded.
Landmines explosions claimed precious human lives in 15 out of a total of 33 districts of the province. In the answer submitted by the home department, it was revealed that the provincial government has paid over Rs. 2 billion 12 crores to the victims’ families during the last five years.
The data shows that throughout the province 176 explosions had taken place during the last five years. The amounts have been paid to the heirs after their verification from the concerned deputy commissioners.
The house also discussed a number of issues relating to the plight of inmates in Balochistan’s prisons and suggested various steps to improve their plight.