Pakistan army rejects BBC story on human rights abuse

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan army on Monday has strongly reacted on a story published by BBC on human rights violation in northwestern parts of the country and termed it "pack of lies".

On Sunday BBC published a story with titled "uncovering Pakistan's secret human rights abuses" said that tens of thousand of people have been killed during the war against terror and many of them were murdered and torture by soldiers and insurgents.

"The story carries conjecturing implicating Pakistan Army without any proof. The angling, spinning and creditability of the story is exposed from the fact that contrary to published claim" Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR), media-wing of Pakistan army said in a statement.

"The story is pack of lies and in violation of journalistic ethos," the statement added.

The army spokesman said that North Waziristan was strong hold of the militants which they were used to plan, coordinate and execute terrorists activities across the country

"On the average six to eight terrorist incidents per month were taking place across Pakistan targeting children, women, schools, churches and markets. People were being slaughtered in North Waziristan and terrorists were playing football with heads of their victims", the army spokesman explained, adding North Waziristan and and local population was actually hostage to hardcore terrorists.

North Waziristan has been a battleground between the army and the Taliban since June 2014 following a full-scale military onslaught that has killed over 5,000 suspected militants, according to the military.

Over 700 soldiers have also lost their lives in landmine blasts and clashes with the Taliban during this period.

"ISPR was received only a judgmental questioners from BBC, in response we offered full opportunity even interaction to know the facts, however BBC team never responded," army spokesman said.

BBC in its story quoted source from Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and said that score of civilians have been killed in air strikes during military operation against the terrorists in North Waziristan since 2014 to 2016.

Pashtun Tahhafuzz Movement (PTM), an ethnic nationalist movement in the country's northwestern and southwestern Pashtun-populated areas, championing Pashtun rights.

"The BBC story lacks any credible and authentic source and merely relied on hearsay while quoted unauthentic private channels news of 22 Jan 2014" Army spokesman reacted .

BBC has quoted activist from a particular group besides not availing full opportunity offered by ISPR and also ignored available official government stance on recent Kharkamar check post incident in Waziristan, he complained

The army spokesman termed the story as ill intended, biased and part of a larger agenda to undermine Pakistan’s efforts for fighting global menace of terrorism and Pakistan’s unparalleled achievements in war against terrorism contributing to regional peace.

He announced that the issue is being formally taken up with BBC authorities.