Interrogation Techniques in Balochistan: A Critical Analysis of Legal Frameworks and Human Rights

Abstract

The study examined the interrogation practices in Balochistan with a critical exploration of legal boundaries. A critical analysis of relevant sources and the case study in the thesis revealed that Balochistan has a high prevalence of unethical interrogation practices most predominantly torture coupled with enforced disappearances. The study revealed a high number of individuals who had been abducted by law enforcement agencies including police officers, military, and Frontier Corps in Balochistan for various reasons including terrorism, crime, and militia insurgency. The application of unethical interrogation practices in Balochistan is partly attributed to socio-cultural and historical factors. After Pakistan’s independence in 1947, the state has had an uncomfortable relationship with Balochistan with the province refusing to join the Pakistani federation, which triggered insurgencies from within the province against the Pakistani federal government. Pakistani’s federal government response to ongoing unrest and political dissent in Balochistan has largely been framed through the lens of securitisation, resulting in an escalating reliance on military and paramilitary apparatuses to exercise control. The torture practices have also been a result of unclear legal framework to guide investigation; inadequate police resources; pressure from the courts, and lack of training on modern investigation practices.