RISING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

It had become a routine feature that IEDs are exploding daily claiming growing number of life of the ordinary people, all non combatants or passersby. Five women and four children were among 17 persons injured in an IED blast on main Saryab Road. The militants presumably targeted the convoy of the Frontier Corps passing through the area. Since a jammar was fitted in the FC vehicle, it neutralized the bomb attack by jamming the explosive device and it exploded afterwards killing two persons and wounding 17 others, all civilians and passersby. Such reports are pouring into the newspaper offices from all parts of Balochistan, mainly from the conflict zones, where landmines and IEDs are planted by the combatants to inflict losses to their rival. The growing civilian casualties are a cause of serious concern for the common people and expected that this practice should discontinue planting roadside bombs as it kill ordinary people, including women and children. We hope that the lives of the civilian people, mainly women and children, are fully protected by all forces involved in the Baloch conflict. The Supreme Court had ordered de-mining of all areas, mainly in Bugti Tribal Territory, for the safety and security of the ordinary people. We hope that the authorities will implement the Supreme Court order and they will not show contempt towards the Supreme Court to remove all landmines. It is the duty of the State and the State should do it earliest before more lives are lost in landmine blasts.