Lahore: September 18, 2009. (PCP) The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has cautioned the government against adverse implications of depending on private militias, or lashkars, in the fight against Taliban militants in the Swat valley and other parts of Malakand division, and arbitrary detention of militants’ families to force them to surrender. A statement issued by HRCP on Friday said: “The problems the government is facing in establishing law and order in the Swat region are enormous. While the Commission appreciates the effort that is being made, it would like to advise prudence on some tactics, especially the security forces’ patronage of and reliance on lashkars to take on the militants. The strategy is fraught with hazards. It is difficult to control such private militias and neither the government nor the military can vouch for their conduct. Reprisal attacks and settling of scores have preoccupied many of these highly-armed lashkars. The government must not outsource the responsibility of ensuring security in the region to civilian armed bands. HRCP also cannot countenance the detention by the security forces of families of militants, including women and children, where they have been unable to arrest the militants themselves. Such arbitrary detentions are in violation of individuals’ human rights and are not expected of a rights-respecting government. Any derogation of the human rights of the people will be counterproductive. The government must provide the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all those arrested during the operation and produce them in court. It must also ensure that the focus of the repatriation drive to the Swat region remains on making conditions in the conflict-hit zone conducive for the return of IDPs. HRCP is concerned about disturbing reports of mutilated dead bodies being found in the region. The government must investigate the circumstances of each death with a view to prosecuting those responsible. HRCP also reiterates its concern about mass graves found in the region, and emphasises the need for a transparent inquiry to establish the identities of both the victims and the perpetrators. A failure to do so will not only create misgivings among the people but also cause erosion of trust in the government and fuel extremist tendencies.”