Head rolls as Balochistan orders probe into deadly Ziarat police-post attack

• Balochistan suspends Ziarat SP, orders high-level probe into deadly Mangi Dam attack

• 4-member body to investigate security lapses, command failures and operational response

• Nine policemen, including two SHOs, martyred in attack while 15 terrorists were killed in clearance operation

 QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Wednesday suspended the Ziarat Superintendent of Police (SP) and constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the deadly terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam police post, which claimed the lives of nine policemen, as authorities moved to determine responsibility, assess security lapses and strengthen the protection of critical installations across the province.

On the night between Monday and Tuesday, at least nine police officials, including two station house officers (SHOs), were martyred in the terrorist assault on the Mangi Dam police post. A subsequent clearance operation killed 15 alleged terrorists.

Adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister on Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind confirmed the suspension of the Ziarat SP, saying the provincial government had issued a notification in this regard.

Separately, the provincial government also constituted a four-member inquiry committee to probe the incident.

According to a notification issued on July 7, the committee has been tasked with establishing the “complete sequence of events leading to, during and after the terrorist attack”.

The committee will also ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident and evaluate the deployment, preparedness, response, command, control and coordination of all concerned law enforcement and security agencies.

It will further investigate 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 officials.

The committee has also been directed to assess whether the existing “standard operating procedures (SOPs) and security arrangements for the protection of the installation were adequate and properly implemented”.

In addition, it will fix responsibility on any individual or organisation, “wherever warranted, in accordance with the applicable laws, rules and service regulations”, and recommend disciplinary, administrative or legal action against those found responsible.

The committee has also been assigned to “recommend immediate, medium-term and long-term measures for strengthening the security of Mangi Dam and other critical infrastructure across the province”.

The notification further stated that the committee may also propose policy, institutional or operational reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future and has been directed to submit its report within 15 days.

“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,” the notification said.

On Tuesday, a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reviewed the law and order situation in Ziarat following the attack. The chief minister also met the families of the martyrs, visited the injured and expressed solidarity with the security forces.

CM Bugti directed that the operation against terrorists and their facilitators be taken to its logical conclusion at all costs and stressed that no opportunity should be allowed for anti-state elements to regroup.

He further instructed all law enforcement agencies to continue operations in a more effective, swift and decisive manner through enhanced mutual coordination.