Balochistan’s Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani announced that social media reports claiming the kidnapping of female teacher Zarina Marri are completely baseless. Following comprehensive departmental investigations, officials confirmed that no school teacher named Zarina Marri ever existed in their records.
Missing persons is an extremely sensitive issue. Before spreading such unfounded news, proper verification with relevant authorities should have been conducted, Minister Raheela Durrani stated during a press conference in Quetta, alongside Balochistan Government Spokesperson Shahid Rind and Chief Minister’s Advisor Mina Majeed Baloch.
The Education Minister emphasized that thorough investigations by the education department and other institutions revealed no record of any teacher by this name. She accused certain elements of spreading propaganda about enforced disappearances in Balochistan to create unrest in the country and province.
Chief Minister’s Advisor Mina Majeed Baloch confirmed that education department records contain no teacher named Zarina Marri. She urged citizens not to participate in anti-Pakistan narratives and to avoid spreading unverified news on social media.
During the press conference, Baloch presented a video clip featuring Taj Muhammad, Principal of Government Model High School Kohlu, who stated: “I have 38 years of service experience. Propaganda is being spread on social media. There is no school by this name, nor has there ever been a school teacher by this name. The news of Zarina Marri kidnapping is baseless and false.”
Government Spokesperson Shahid Rind noted that even senior journalists were making these false claims. He challenged them to present facts and evidence if they had any, even after this clarification.
The controversy began when senior journalist Hamid Mir posted about this false news several days ago, creating confusion and anxiety on social media. However, following the government’s clarification, the news has been proven completely unfounded.
