Human Rights Commission asks security forces to vacate school, college buildings in Swat.

SWAT -- Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Hina Jilani has asked the security forces to vacate the buildings of schools and colleges in Swat immediately and also shut the 'illegal prisons' in the district.

Addressing a news conference at the Swat Press Club on Saturday, she pointed out that no information was being given to the relatives of those, who had died in the 'illegal prisons'.

The presser was arranged at the conclusion of a high-profile fact-finding mission to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The mission comprised Hina Jilani, the commission's vice-chairman for KP Akbar Khan, and HRCP members Jamila Gillani and Prof Ijaz Khan. The team spoke to a range of civil society members, journalists, lawyers, and district administration officials in Bannu, Peshawar, Khyber and Swat, according to a statement.

HRCP chairperson also calls for immediate closure of 'illegal' jails in district

HRCP members Prof Ijaz, Barrister Sher Mohammad Khan, Ms Gillani, Akbar Khan and Maryam Rao were also present at the press conference.

At the presser, Ms Jilani said the current political situation in Pakistan was very alarming, where common people were suffering from severe problems and institutions were not fulfilling their role.

Ms Jilani said HRCP team visited Swat to collect information about human rights situation there.

Commenting on Pakistan's current political situation, she said institutions had become so weak that everyone challenged them openly. 'It is responsibility of the civil institutions to improve the political situation. Even the Supreme Court never gave such a weak impression which it gives these days,' she said, adding the civil institutions should play their role according to the Constitution.

Ms Jilani said economy was on the verge of destruction, where common people were faced with multiple difficulties. She said political leaders dissolved assemblies at their whims without any solid reason, adding Rs35 billion were required for holding elections in Punjab, which could best be spent on people's welfare. She said presently there were no assemblies in two provinces, while the National Assembly was incomplete.

Ms Jilani said HRCP appreciated the resolve of Swat people against the new wave of militancy. She said HRCP was deeply concerned about the forced disappearance of people and demanded the missing persons be shown and presented in courts if they were guilty of any crime.

She also showed concern over the 'extrajudicial killings' and...