QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly witnessed a rare moment of unity on Tuesday as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle condemned a social media campaign allegedly aimed at character assassination and demanded a high-level investigation.
The session, which began 45 minutes late under Speaker Captain (R) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, was dominated by outrage over a Facebook page named “Balochistan Leaks.” Opposition Leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, raising a point of order, stated that false information was being spread under a “well-thought-out plan” to defame assembly members and politicians. He demanded an inquiry by the Cyber Crimes Agency.
Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rahman Khetran, who claimed to be a specific target, challenged the allegations. He vehemently denied claims of running a private jail, stating, “If 5 percent of the allegations are proven, I will resign myself.” He asserted that the page’s connections would soon be uncovered.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, claiming to also be a victim, emphasized the need for robust laws to protect honor. “We are not afraid of accountability but will not tolerate character assassination,” he declared. He revealed that a person who posted against Minister Khetran had already been identified, and legal action should be taken to set an example.
In a decisive ruling, Speaker Achakzai summoned the local head of the National Cyber Crime Agency to the assembly. He also formed a special committee, headed by Minister Sardar Abdul Rahman Khetran, to investigate the matter, signaling the assembly’s intent to pursue the issue formally.
Meanwhile Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Central Secretary General of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and former Deputy Chairman of the Senate, issued a stern warning on Wednesday that certain constitutional amendments could “darken the country’s future,” while also dismissing the Balochistan Chief Minister’s recent statements as self-serving.
Speaking to the media upon his arrival in Quetta, where he was given a warm welcome by senior party leaders, Haideri did not specify the amendments in question but framed them as a significant national threat. His comments are seen as a critique of recent political maneuvers by the central government.
