QUETTA: The Balochistan government announced on Friday that two suspects allegedly involved in the killing of seven labourers in Gwadar have been arrested.

Some unidentified armed men had on May 10 killed the seven labourers in the Surbandan area of Gwadar when they were sleeping in a rented room near a jetty.

The labourers were working at a barber’s shop and belonged to different cities of central Punjab.

Announcing the arrest of the two suspects at press conference, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said: “It is an achievement and I have gathered all officials of all institutions concerned who have played an important role in the arrest of the two suspects involved in this heinous crime.”

The Counter Terrorism Department’s (CTD) provincial chief, Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya, also attended the press conference and gave some details about the arrest of the suspects.

Mr Langove said the two suspects are residents of Gwadar city and one of them allegedly belonged to the banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

“Terrorism will not be tolerated in the province and the provincial government is taking all possible steps to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the province,” the home minister claimed, adding that it is pure terrorism to target civilians and that has been happening in Balochistan for a long time and it has nothing to do with the struggle for the rights of the people of Balochistan.

He said the entire nation stood by security forces in the war against terrorism and the government will not tolerate any act of terrorism in Balochistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goraya said that investigation into the tragic incident of Noshki is also in progress and the CTD will soon unmask and arrest the elements involved in the killing of nine people who were first kidnapped from a Taftan-bound coach and later shot dead.

The victims of that incident were going to Iran and Iraq on a valid visa.

Referring to Sarbandan incident, Mr Goraya said that arms and ammunition had also been recovered from the arrested suspects.

In reply to question about the firing on the car of Nawabzada Khalid Khan Magsi, the home minister said that efforts are under way to arrest the elements involved in that incident.

“Four personnel of the Balochistan Levies who were posted at Quetta-Sukkur Highway in Bakhtairabad area have been suspended for showing negligence in performing their duty in the area,” Mr Langove said.

He denied reports that the provincial government has planned to erect a fence in Gwadar, adding that the provincial government has no such plans.

“It is just a propaganda from some quarters while there is no truth in it,” the home minister said.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2024