BNP says weakness of LEAs responsible for tribal hostilities

BNP announces 10-day mourning over murder of Zarakzai

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) has held the weakness of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) responsible for the tribal feuds in Balochistan.

Addressing a jam-packed news conference at the Quetta Press Club, BNP senior vice-president Abdul Wali Kakar said the recent killing of their party leader Amanullah Zarakzai along his grandson and two bodyguards was an open challenge to the writ of the state.

“On October 25, 2009, Riaz Ahmad Zarakzai, son of Amanullah Zarakzai, was killed in broad daylight in Norgam bazaar of Zeghri but the police did not bring the perpetrators to book, despite the fact that an FIR had been lodged,” he said.

“Had Riaz’s killers been brought to justice, the recent incident would not have taken place,” lamented Kakar.

BNP leaders Nawabzada Haji Lashkari Raisani, Ghulam Nabi Marri, and provincial minister Zeenat Shahwani along with other party workers were also present on the occasion.

Amanullah Zarakzai was the son of Nawab Babu Nauroz Khan Zarakzai, who was at the forefront of the unrest during 1958 in Balochistan.

Talking about the attack on Amanullah Zarakzai, Kakar regretted that children and women were also a part of his convoy.

“In our tribal society, enemies are not attacked in the presence of women and children,” he said, adding, “unfortunately, Amanullah was killed when he was travelling to Zehri town with women and children”.

Kakar noted that since the time of the British, Balochistan had been pushed into the quagmire of tribal feuds.

“The representatives and real sardars and nawabs have been shunned, and in their places, new sardars and nawabs are being installed, which is another reason behind tribal disputes in the province,” he responded to a question.

“For the last over 15 years, these kinds of incidents have been taking place in Balochistan due to weakness of the LEAs,” he remarked.

“The LEAs have failed to provide justice and that is why the fate of such incidents is decided on roads,” he added.

The BNP leader maintained that his party would peacefully record its protest across the province from August 20 to August 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2019.