QUETTA: Protesters led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf parliamentary leader Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind continued their sit-in in front of the Balochistan Assembly on a second consecutive day, demanding arrest of those behind the killing of three party workers in Kachhi district.

The protesters have established camps in front of the Balochistan Assembly building, carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands.

They chanted slogans against the government for not arresting the suspects, , including former Balochistan finance minister Mir Asim Kurd Gallo, nominated in an FIR.

“Our protest will continue until the arrest of all the suspects nominated in the FIR,” Mr Rind said while addressing the protesters on Saturday.

Govt asked to arrest suspects including former provincial finance minister

He said he would take up the issue in the upcoming assembly session.

Meanwhile, former Balochistan finance minister Mir Asim Kurd Gallo has denied his involvement in the killings and described the allegation as false and baseless.

Speaking at a press conference in Quetta on Saturday, he said, “I have nothing to do with the incident and the PTI leader [Mr Rind] was impplicating him without having any proof.”

He said that the government should form a joint investigation team on the killings and that he was ready to cooperate in the investigation.

Mr Rind earlier alleged that Mr Kurd was involved in the murder of the three men and injuring two others.

Mr Kurd, who is also a leader of the ruling Balochistan Awami Party, termed the demand of his arrest a ‘contempt of court’, as the Balochistan High Court had only granted him a pre-arrest bail.

The ex-minister expressed his sympathy with the heirs of the deceased and claimed that they were his voters and like children. “The allegations of murders against me are politically motivated just to defame the Balochistan Awami Party and damage my political career,” he said.

He said Mr Rind was deliberately involving Balochistan’s governor and chief minister and the National Assembly’s deputy speaker in a baseless case and making them controversial for his own vested interests, as the party’s high command ignored him while granting important slots.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022