Pakistan Army to probe killing of civilians by troops
By IANSFriday, October 8, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has ordered setting up of a board of enquiry after a video featuring the killing of civilians by troops emerged, a media report said Friday.
The board will be headed by a major general and will be assisted by two to three senior officers, the Online news agency reported.
General Kayani, referring to his directive on the issue of human rights and extra-judicial killings, said such violations of his orders will not be tolerated.
He said it’s not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.
Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of the Pakistan Army, he stressed that the Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.
He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers.
He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign the army, the terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks in the past, including the attack on GHQ.
Kayani has directed the commanders to be vigilant and follow the policy of zero tolerance in such cases.
