Frontier Corps officer arrested in Hayat Baloch’s murder

QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Langove has said that Frontier Corps (FC) personnel involved in the murder of youth Hayat Baloch has been taken into custody and handed over to the police.

The minister said that justice prevailed in the case of Hayat Baloch as the killers were arrested from the crime scene and handed over to the regional police from FC authorities. He said Inspector-General FC South met the deceased family and expressed solidarity with them.

The minister said it was not appropriate to blame the entire institution as security forces have been performing their role with full dedication and devotion in the province.

On Wednesday, the father of Hayat Baloch recognised the suspect during an identification parade in Turbat district jail under the supervision of a judicial magistrate.

The father of the victim had earlier said he could recognise the FC man if brought in front of him. Suspect Shadiullah was in police custody and a murder case has been registered against him on the complaint of the victim’s elder brother, Muhammad Murad Baloch.

FC Balochistan issued a statement saying the tragic incident took place in Absar area f Turbat in which terrorists targeted an FC convoy, resulting in injuries to three personnel.

After the incident, some locals including Hayat Baloch, who was present in the area were interrogated about the incident during which FC soldier Naik Shadiullah showed irresponsible attitude and opened fire killing Hayat Baloch on the spot.

The FC personnel present on the occasion overpowered the suspect and disarmed him immediately. It added that FC South inspector general has ordered handing over of the suspect to police after an internal inquiry.

The FC handed over the suspect to police within two hours, before his nomination in the incident. The notables of the area had welcomed the FC gesture, it added.

The statement said it was a crime committed by an individual and FC Balochistan as an institution deplored the tragic incident and expressed solidarity with victims.

FC South Inspector General Maj Gen Sarfaraz Ali visited the house of Hayat Baloch in Turbat on Wednesday and condoled with his father and other members of the family and offered Fateha for the departed soul.

He expressed sympathies with the family and said that as an institution the FC was standing by the grieved family and assured that justice would be done with them.