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| CPD researchs Balochistan gun violence |
South Asian Small Arms Net work SASA.Net Balochistan, Pakistan
Centre for Peace and Development CPD is a civil society organization working for promotion of peace, human rights and democracy in Balochistan, Pakistan. CPD is an active member of national steering committee of SASA-Net and well aware of the consequences of the use of small arms and light weapons, particularly in a tribal society. Therefore, the Centre for Peace and Development CPD intends to work towards creating awareness and mobilising people to reduce the use of SALW in Balochistan.
CPD has started a study on the use of small arms and gun casualties and deaths in Balochistan by focusing on the crimes committed and reported in the local newspapers. Three local newspapers were selected for this research: the Daily Jang, daily Mashriq and Balochistan News.
CPD began the study in July 2004 and collected information for the next four months to October 2004. It was found that frequently used weapons were Kalashnikov, automatic pistols, revolvers, short guns, rocket launchers and hand grenades. All these arms are easily available in Balochistan.
Twenty- three casualties each month were recorded during this period (including men, women and children), a total of 92 for the four months. A further 128 people were killed, an average of 32 per month. These figures, of course, only include those incidents reported in the media. Many more are not.
These figures are very alarming. In the small population of Balochistan it is a huge number which needs the urgent attention of the policy makers, civil society and media to educate the people and mobilise policy makers for immediate action. |
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