Balochistan minister taken into custody

Police on Friday arrested a provincial minister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Mubeen Khilji, for inciting violence following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Khilji is the provincial minister for industries and enjoys a good reputation in the PTI. He was arrested by police from Quetta.

Like other parts of Pakistan protests also started in Balochistan province after the dramatic arrest of Imran Khan during which PTI supporters torched public and private property.

A senior police official said Khilji was shifted to district jail Quetta. Khilji has been arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

The Bijli Road Police Station also lodged an FIR against him for inciting violence which caused considerable damage.

So far, police have arrested 72 workers and leaders of the PTI in Balochistan for inflicting damage to public and private properties.

A day ago, former deputy speaker of National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, provincial minister Mobeen Khilji and other PTI leaders were booked for inciting violence.

The Police Station Bijli Road in Quetta lodged an FIR against PTI leaders for inciting and directing violent protests in the provincial capital and other parts of Balochistan.

As per the FIR obtained by The Express Tribune, police accused Suri, Mobeen Khilji and other PTI leaders of inflicting damage to public and private property, blocking roads and burning tyres to disrupt routine life.

On Thursday, a senior police official said that so far police have arrested 70 workers and leaders of the former ruling party in Balochistan. All of the arrested PTI workers have been shifted to various police stations for interrogation.

Addressing a press conference, Munawara Munir, the former MNA of the PTI lashed out at the Balochistan government for what she claimed using force against PTI workers without any valid reasons.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2023.