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Balochistan situation mocks govt claims
March 09, 2012
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Balochistan law and order situation has become a gigantic challenge to the provincial government and the security agencies concerned. Since Pakistan is a frontline state in the US-led war on terrorism, it is bearing the brunt of terrorism and extremism.
Recently, Afghan security forces kidnapped two Pakistanis from Balochistan and later killed them, said police and Levies officials. Some two dozen Afghan security force officers crossed the border into southwestern Pakistan on Friday and took two Pakistanis back into Afghanistan where they shot them dead, Secretary Tribal Affairs Naseebullah Bazai told Pulse. He said the government had called an immediate meeting with the Afghan Consulate General in Quetta.
"We have demanded immediate return of bodies and we will lodge a strong protest with Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry had been alerted to the incident. Local intelligence officials confirmed the incident. Balochistan borders Afghanistan and Iran and is rife with domestic insurgency as well as violence blamed on Taliban militants.
At least three militants were killed when a convoy of security forces came under attack near Bugti area of Balochistan. Security forces retaliated, killing three militants. The convoy was on a routine patrol in Sui when it came under attack, he said. The attack caused minor damage to the vehicle. Following the attack the area was cordoned off by security forces.
At least 13 people were killed and 30 others injured when a bomb placed in a car parked near the house of a former minister of state on Arbab Karam Road exploded on Friday evening. The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. The powerful blast was heard far and wide; it smashed the windows of several buildings. At least six vehicles parked in the area and 10 nearby houses caught fire after the explosion.
“Unknown men dumped explosive material into the vehicle and parked it near the house of former state minister Mir Naseer Mengal,” DIG Operation Nazir Ahmed Kurd said, adding that the explosion occurred at around 7pm. He said 13 people were killed and another 30 injured. Intelligence sources put the number of the dead at 15. Seven of the dead are said to be the guards of Shafique Mengal, son of Naseer Mengal.
Security officials were of the view that Shafique Mengal might have been the target of the attack. DIG Investigation Hamid Shakeel said about 40-50kg of explosive material had been used in the blast. He said explosive material had also been planted in another vehicle, parked near the house, adding that the bomb disposal squad defused it. The injured were taken to Bolan Medical College Hospital and Civil Hospital.
According to doctors, six of the injured were in critical condition. Some of the injured were identified as Abdul Qudoos, Qadeer Mula Bakhsh, Gul Muhammad, Muhammad Rafeeq, Abdul, Khalid Khan, Karam Khan, Abdul Hameed, Faisal Khan, Dost Muhammad, Musawwar Khan, Abdullah Khan, Amanullah, Afzal Khan, Lal Muhammad, Javed Ahmed, Abdul Rasheed, Fazal Kareem, Muhammad Yunus and Abdul Kareem.
According to sources, Shafique Mengal had returned to Quetta from his native Khuzdar district about an hour before the blast and was in his house. His guards started firing in the air after the blast. They allegedly manhandled some journalists who were there to cover the incident. Law-enforcement personnel cordoned off the area and started investigation.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, BLA spokesman Meerik Baloch told reporters over phone that it was a suicide attack carried out by Darwaish Baloch who, he said, was a member of their Majeed Shaheed Brigade.
The heat of war on terror is being felt not only in Balochistan, but also in other parts of the country. Moreover, political instability created by vested interests has given way to enemy agents operating across the border in Afghanistan to create chaos, commotion, sabotage, killings and other related crimes inside Balochistan. Evidence exists beyond any shadow of doubt that Indian consulates/foreign elements in Afghanistan are involved in creating instability in Balochistan.
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