Marri tribesmen protest against Barkhan incident in red zone of Quetta

Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:

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Marri tribesmen continued their protest in the Red Zone of Quetta against the recovery of three mutilated dead bodies from Balochistan’s Barkhan district. Women and children are also part of the protest demonstration in the Red Zone leading towards the Governor’s house and Chief Minister’s secretariat. Khan Muhammad Marri, a local tribesman said the dead bodies are of his wife 40 years old Granaz, and two sons i.e. Muhammad Anwar 22 years and Abdul Qadir 15 years. Former Prime Minister, Imran Khan also condemned the incident and demanded the arrest of the culprits involved.

Marri once served as a private security guard of the Balochistan Minister for Communication and Works (C&W) department, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran. Marri accused Sardar Khetran of murdering his wife and two sons. The charge vehemently denied by the Balochistan Minister, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran. “They are trying to tarnish my political image”, Mr. Khetran argued.

The protesters are demanding of the federal and provincial governments to lodge a first information report (FIR) against Sardar Khetran. They also claim that still six children were in the private jail of Sardar Khetran in Barkhan district. Police on Tuesday night conducted a raid at the residence of Sardar Khetran in Quetta to find the missing chilidren of Khan Muhammad Marri. However, no recovery was made.

The protesters say that demonstration would continue till the arrest of the culprits involved in the henious crime. “Our protest is for justice and for the arrest of Sardar Khetran”, Jehangir Marri, the central office-bearer of the Marri Itehad Pakistan said. He said the governemnt was not taking any serious action against the minister.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo had ordered the formation of a joint interrogation team (JIT) to probe into the recovery of the dead bodies from Barkhan. However, the heirs and Marri tribesmen said the JIT only comprises of police officers and no intelligence officer is part of the JIT to ensure fair and transparent investigation. “We want fair investigation without fear and favor”, Jehangir Marri demanded.