QUETTA: The killing of Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar in Mastung has intensified debate in Balochistan over the links between militant organisations and political platforms accused of providing them ideological or political space.
Judge Kakar and his security guard were killed in a targeted attack on Thursday, while another additional sessions judge was injured. The incident came amid a recent wave of violence in the province and shortly after courts delivered verdicts in cases involving leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
Security and political circles have pointed towards a possible connection between the attack and growing tensions following legal proceedings against BYC leadership, including the conviction of BYC leader Mahrang Baloch by an anti-terrorism court in Quetta.
The attack has drawn attention to allegations that the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and BYC share overlapping narratives and objectives — claims that BYC leaders have repeatedly rejected. Authorities have previously accused militant groups of using political and social platforms to gain public support, while rights groups and activists have denied any association with armed organizations.
The Mastung attack occurred weeks after Mahrang Baloch was sentenced in a terrorism-related case. Following the verdict, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch criticized the judicial process in a social media statement, alleging that courts were influenced by powerful institutions rather than acting independently.
Some observers in Balochistan viewed the criticism as escalating tensions against state institutions, while others defended it as political expression protected under democratic norms.
The killing of Judge Kakar has raised fresh concerns over whether militant groups could be attempting to intimidate the judiciary, particularly judges involved in cases related to terrorism and national security.
The attack also followed a series of violent incidents in Balochistan, including the killing of labourers in Mashkail, the shooting of passengers in Khad Kocha, and other attacks targeting civilians.
Security officials have repeatedly stated that groups such as the BLA seek to destabilize Balochistan through violence, while accusing hostile elements of supporting such activities. However, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the Mastung attack so far, and authorities have not publicly released evidence establishing a direct link between the attack and BYC or any other organization.
The incident has once again brought the alleged BLA-BYC connection into focus, with authorities warning that militant groups may attempt to exploit political narratives to undermine public confidence in state institutions, including the judiciary.
