Hundreds of protesters, along with family members and supporters, initiated a demonstration in front of the Governor’s House in Quetta’s Red Zone, demanding an inquiry into the abduction and subsequent killing of Naseebullah Achakzai. The uproar follows the latest development revealing his demise three days ago, at the hands of the Quetta Police.
The sequence of events dates back to the night of November 10 when the prominent figure, a business magnate of Pakistan occupied Balochistan and a political leader affiliated with the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), was abducted by unidentified individuals. Initial reports suggested that armed men intercepted Achakzai in the Baleli area on the outskirts of Quetta while he was en route from Chaman to Quetta.
Naseebullah Khan Achakzai buried in front of Governor’s house
Reports indicate that the armed men forcibly took Naseebullah Achakzai from his vehicle at the Quetta-Chaman national highway, taking him away to an undisclosed location. However, the recent revelation points to his killing by the Quetta Police in what they termed an encounter, raising suspicions and fueling the ongoing protests.
Amid the chaos, his grieving relatives proceeded to bury his body in the Red Zone, near the Governor’s House, as a symbolic gesture of their profound anguish and protest against the suspected injustices surrounding his demise.
The demonstration amassed significant momentum as numerous protestors, including influential leaders from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) at both central and provincial levels, joined forces, amplifying the demand for a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to Achakzai’s abduction and subsequent encounter.
Discrepancies in official accounts
Following the fervent protests, authorities were compelled to respond, leading to the formation of an inquiry committee by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Quetta. Interestingly, the order copy acknowledged a fact that Naseebullah Achakzai was indeed killed in an encounter. However, discrepancies emerged between official statements, with the Caretaker Information Minister of occupied Balochistan, Jan Achakzai initially claiming awareness of the abduction only through social media.
These discrepancies and contradictions between official accounts have substantiated the protestors’ assertions of a potential conspiracy behind Achakzai’s untimely demise. The suspicions cast a shadow on the sequence of events, hinting at the possibility of a deliberate abduction and staged encounter orchestrated by the Quetta Police.