By Adil Mahmood for AlaloDulal
An important point often missed in heated discussions on Border Killings is our national culture – that we share with our giant democratic neighbour – of holding life of the subaltern citizens as less valuable.
In both countries the forces can do whatever to unarmed poor people with a tacit sanction from the government. Though the Human Rights organisations raise some ruckus for a while, far too often the armed forces of the state grossly violate human rights with obvious or subtle acquiescence of the general public and the government – as for example, the “Crossfire’ by RAB. While many human rights groups are vocal against this unconstitutional practice, the general people is overwhelmingly quiet. We cannot delink the principles behind ‘Crossfire’ from ‘Border Killings’, since, what is perceived as a justified measure to control criminals in our country should also be deem to be a justified measure to control illegal immigration and terrorist infiltration in another country.