Judicial commission formed to probe Ziarat incident: Bugti

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said the provincial government had constituted a judicial commission to investigate the Ziarat incident, a day after an agreement between the government and protesters ended a days-long sit-in staged in response to the terrorist attack in Ziarat’s Mangi area.

At least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred while fighting terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan during the attack in the Ziarat area of Balochistan.

Bugti confirmed the development during a meeting with Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Zardari House in Islamabad, where he briefed the party chief on the province’s administrative and political situation, as well as the recent security situation.

Read: Sit-in ends as Balochistan govt, Ziarat committee strike judicial inquiry deal

During the briefing, the chief minister said he had played a full role in consoling the bereaved families affected by the Ziarat incident and in fulfilling their demands.

He said a judicial commission had been established on the demand of the bereaved families to investigate the incident.

Bugti also announced that an all-parties conference would soon be convened on the restoration of peace in Balochistan, adding that political parties outside parliament would also be invited to participate.

During the meeting, Bilawal paid tribute to the personnel of the army, Frontier Corps and police who were martyred in the recent wave of terrorism.

“I can feel the pain of the bereaved families of those martyred in the recent terrorist incidents,” the PPP chairman said.

He also praised Bugti for the successful negotiations with the protesters and his efforts to address the concerns of the bereaved families.

Also Read: Nation mourns as Quetta bids farewell to Ziarat attack martyrs

“You have played a positive role in healing the pain of the bereaved families of the Ziarat incident and making the negotiation process successful,” Bilawal said.

Thanking the opposition parties for their role in making the negotiations successful, the PPP chairman said political dialogue remained the only solution to Balochistan’s political issues.

“The Pakistan People’s Party believes in political dialogue with political parties, whether they are in power or in the opposition,” he said.

Reiterating the country’s long-standing stance on terrorism, he said the nation stood like “a wall of steel” against terrorism.