Missing person figures unverified: Domki

Committee formed for transparent Turbat inquiry, says CM

QUETTA:

Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki of Balochistan dismissed unofficial figures on missing persons as baseless assumptions lacking verified evidence.

He emphasized that the Missing Persons Commission is actively investigating these cases.

Domki acknowledged the return of many missing persons to their homes and emphasized that accurate data would be revealed in the commission’s final report.

Furthermore, the caretaker CM reported that a committee, comprising federal ministers, engaged with protesters, reaching an agreement to release approximately two hundred arrested individuals after requisite legal procedures.

In response to an incident in Turbat, Domki revealed the formation of a committee by the Balochistan government, the lodging of an FIR, and an ongoing transparent investigation.

Read Govt releases 34 more Baloch protesters following negotiations

Regarding the alleged mistreatment of protesters by Islamabad police, Domki highlighted the central government’s formation of a special committee to investigate the incident and address any misconduct during the protests.

Emphasizing the importance of national unity, Domki urged the elimination of hatred for the collective prosperity of Pakistan. He affirmed the caretaker provincial government’s commitment to conducting fair and transparent elections in Balochistan.

Addressing the situation in Balochistan, the caretaker CM expressed optimism, stating that the law and order situation had improved. He pledged the full utilization of available resources to strengthen peace and security in the province.

In a related development, the Islamabad High Court cautioned the federal capital’s police against treating Baloch protesters as “enemies.” Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb made these remarks during a hearing on a petition challenging the arrest of marchers from Kech, Balochistan, who sought to protest in Islamabad against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

The court hearing involved key stakeholders, including the senior superintendent of police (SSP) operations, the advocate general (AG) of Islamabad, and representatives of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), organizers of the protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.