Balochistan minister held over Barkhan tragedy

Levies recover three of missing family members

QUETTA:

In a major development in the triple murder case in Barkhan district of Balochistan, the police arrested a provincial minister, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, while the Levies forces recovered three abducted persons on Wednesday.

Levies force had discovered three mutilated bodies from a well in the Haji Kot area of the district on Monday night. The victims belonged to the family of local tribesman Khan Muhammad Marri, who had accused Communications and Works Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran of the murders.

"Sardar Khetran is formally detained in this case," a senior police officer told The Express Tribune over the telephone. The arrest came after the Balochistan government had formed a special investigation team to probe the incident.

Initially, it was reported that the deceased were Giran Naz, wife of Khan Muhammad Marri and her two sons Mohammad Nawaz, in his 20s, and Abdul Qadir, in his teens. However, according to post-mortem report, the deceased woman was not Giran Naz, rather a teenage girl.

Levies sources said late on Wednesday that Giran Naz and her two children – a son and a daughter – were recovered in a raid. They added that the raid was conducted in the hilly area near Dukki-Barkhan border by the Levies Force Sibi Range.

Meanwhile, a Balochistan Police spokesperson confirmed that the case had been transferred from Barkhan to the Crimes Branch Quetta for investigation, adding that Commandant Balochistan Constabulary Salman Chaudhry would lead the special investigation team.

He said that the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Quetta, the DIG Special Branch, and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) would be members of the team.

Protest continues

Meanwhile, heirs of the deceased and the Marri tribesmen continued their protest demonstration in the Red Zone of Quetta to mount pressure on the provincial government to arrest the culprits involved in the grisly killing.

Marri had accused Khetran of his family members’ murder, a charge vehemently denied by the minister.

"This is an effort to tarnish my political image", Khetran had told The Express Tribune via telephone. "I demand a fair and impartial investigation into the incident," Khan Muhammad Marri said.

A large number of protesters blocked the main Red Zone leading towards the Governor's House and Chief Minister's House to vent their anger. Women and children also participated in the protest demo.

The protesters carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans about justice for the victims of Barkhan tragedy.

Members of civil society, lawyers and workers of political parties were also in attendance. "We demand an impartial investigation into the incident," Abdul Rahim Kakar, a local leader of the PTI demanded.

He said the PTI stood by the victims’ family and would not make any compromise over the blood of innocent people.

Jehangir Marri, Secretary General of the Marri Ittehad, said that still five children were in the custody of the minister. "Our first priority and demand is the safe recovery of the children," he said.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Home and Tribal Affairs Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove wrote a letter to the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs), seeking “safe recovery” of Marri’s missing family members.

According to officials of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department, the letter was addressed to Balochistan additional chief secretary, IGP, IB joint director and others.

“Some of Khan Muhammad Marri’s family members were still missing, which generates a bad impact on law and order as well as on the image of law enforcement agencies,” the letter read.

The letter urged the LEAs to take “immediate steps” for the “safe recovery” of the remaining family members and sought a report within 24 hours on the matter.

(With input from APP)