Judicial commission formed to investigate Ziarat incident, says Bugti

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

At least 30 people, including 27 police officers, were killed fighting terrorists identified by the state as Indian proxies. Fitna al-Hindustan during the attack in the Ziarat region of Balochistan.

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

Read: Sit-in ends as Balochistan govt, Ziarat committee reach agreement on judicial inquiry

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

He said a judicial commission had been set up at the request of the bereaved families to investigate the incident.

Bugti also announced that an all-party conference would be convened soon on restoring peace to Balochistan, adding that political parties outside Parliament would also be invited to participate.

During the meeting, Bilawal paid homage to the Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel martyred in the recent spate of terrorism.

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

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

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

“You played a positive role in easing the pain of the families bereaved by the Ziarat incident and ensuring the success of the negotiation process,” Bilawal said.

Thanking the opposition parties for their role in the success of the negotiations, the PPP chairman said political dialogue remained the only solution to Balochistan’s political problems.

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

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