Ziarat SP suspended after police post attack, inquiry launched

QUETTA: The superintendent of police in Ziarat has been suspended following the terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam police post, in which at least nine police personnel, including two station house officers, were martyred, while 15 alleged terrorists were later killed in a clearance operation.

Balochistan Chief Minister’s aide for media and political affairs Shahid Rind confirmed the suspension and said the provincial government had issued a notification in this regard. The move came a day after the attack, which triggered a review of the law and order situation in Ziarat at the provincial level.

Inquiry committee formed

The provincial government has also set up a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. According to a notification dated July 7, the committee has been tasked with determining the complete sequence of events before, during and after the attack.

The inquiry will examine the facts and circumstances of the assault and assess the deployment, preparedness, response, command, control and coordination of all relevant law enforcement and security agencies. It will also look into whether there was any negligence, dereliction of duty, operational lapse, failure of command and control, lack of coordination or cowardice on the part of law enforcement personnel.

In addition, the committee will review whether the existing standard operating procedures and security measures for protecting the installation were sufficient and properly enforced. It has also been directed to identify responsibility, whether individual or organisational, wherever warranted under the applicable laws, rules and service regulations, and to recommend disciplinary, administrative or legal action against those found responsible.

The notification further says the committee will propose immediate, medium-term and long-term steps to improve the security of Mangi Dam and other critical infrastructure across Balochistan. It may also suggest policy, institutional or operational reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents in future.

“The committee shall have the authority to call for any record, summon any officer or official, examine witnesses, inspect the site, obtain expert opinion and co-opt any technical expert(s), if required, for the effective conduct of the inquiry,” it notes.

The committee has been directed to submit its report within 15 days.

Chief minister chairs review meeting

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Ziarat after the attack. He also met the families of the martyred personnel, visited the injured and expressed solidarity with the security forces.

During the meeting, the chief minister directed that action against the terrorists and their facilitators be pursued to its logical conclusion at all costs. He said anti-state elements should not be allowed any opportunity to regroup and instructed all law enforcement agencies to continue operations in a more effective, swift and decisive manner with mutual coordination.