Balochistan CM takes notice of PTM activist’s death, seeks report

Arman Loni is said to have died during baton charge by police to disperse protesters

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Sunday took notice of the death of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) worker Arman Loni on Saturday evening during a protest against the suicide attacks on security forces in Loralai and sought a report from the Zhob division commissioner.

CM Kamal has sought a report on Loni’s death from Bashir Ahmed Khan Bazai within 48 hours.

As there is a three-month ban on the entry of PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen into Balochistan for instigating people to pick up arms against security forces, it is said that Loni’s death occurred during baton charge by police to disperse the protesters.



Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and PTM had jointly staged a sit-in in Loralai to express solidarity with armed forces.

APC strike call

An all-party conference (APC) held on Sunday condemned the “brutal murder” of the PTM worker and announced a strike in Loralai on Monday.

Terming it a “cold-blooded murder”, the leaders said, “All business activities, including medical stores, will remain closed in Loralai.”

The APC called by Awami National Party leader Bismillah Khan Loni was attended by Attaullah Kakar of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Naimatullah Jalalzai of PkMAP, Zakariya Mullazai of JUI Loralai, Mufti Shafiuddin of JUI-Nazariyati, Habibur Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party and leaders of other parties.



It was decided in the conference that all parties’ leaders would participate in the funeral of Arman Loni to be held on Monday in Loralai.

Lawyers announce boycott

The Balochistan Bar Council has condemned the murder of Loni and announced boycott of all court proceedings on Monday.

“The lawyers’ community will boycott all court proceedings across the province against the murder of Arman Loni,” according to a statement issued by the provincial bar council on Sunday.

“Peaceful protests are the constitutional right of all citizens, but straight firing on peaceful protesters is tantamount to stealing basic rights of the public,” stated the council, demanding the constitution of a parliamentary commission to investigate into the cold-blooded murder.

The council also expressed solidarity with political parties by announcing their support for a shutter-down strike.