Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday said that the Ziarat Assistant Commissioner death report was false, clarifying that his earlier statement was based only on initial, unverified information.
Reports had circulated on Sunday claiming that Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Afzal and his son, abducted nearly two months ago, had been killed and their remains dumped in the mountains. CM Bugti reacted at the time by announcing their martyrdom and praising Afzal as a dedicated and capable officer.
“Those who kill innocent people and disrupt peace will not escape their fate,” Bugti had said earlier.
However, addressing the Balochistan Assembly session today, the chief minister said the reports were incorrect.
“We even conducted a forensic analysis of the photo, but the Ziarat Assistant Commissioner death report was not confirmed,” he added.
The assembly session was also held in connection with Pashtun Culture Day, with CM Bugti and Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai donning traditional Pashtun turbans. Fateha was offered for the victims of recent blasts in Kech and other areas.
Background: Ziarat Assistant Commissioner’s Abduction
Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Afzal and his son were abducted nearly a month ago while traveling in Ziarat district. Security officials believe the kidnapping was carried out by armed militants linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been involved in a series of abductions and attacks in the province.
The incident sparked widespread concern across Balochistan, with civil servants and local communities demanding swift action for their safe recovery. Authorities launched multiple search operations in the rugged terrain, but so far, the officer and his son remain missing.
The Ziarat Assistant Commissioner death report that emerged on Sunday caused shockwaves before being rejected by the provincial government. Officials maintain that efforts for their recovery are ongoing.
