A ban on gatherings in Pishin has taken immediate effect after the Balochistan government decided on Monday to intensify operations against criminals. Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove announced the restriction following a meeting held to review the security situation in the district and other areas of the province.
Section 144 Imposed in the District
Mr Langove issued the order for the imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure while chairing the meeting. The measure, which restricts public assembly, was announced with immediate effect. The ban on gatherings in Pishin forms part of a wider decision by the provincial government to step up action against criminal elements.
The home minister stated that the protection of the lives and property of citizens was the top priority of the government.
Who Attended the Security Review
The meeting was attended by tribal elders and religious scholars from Pishin, as well as Public Accounts Committee Chairman Asghar Tareen and lawmakers Syed Zafar Agha and Asfandyar Kakar. Home Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqat, the Pishin division commissioner, the deputy inspector general of police, the district police officer and other relevant officials also took part.
The presence of local elders, religious scholars and elected representatives alongside senior administrative and police officials reflected the consultative nature of the review, which preceded the decision to restrict public assembly in the district.
Two More Hostages Killed in Jhal Magsi
Separately, the security situation in other parts of Balochistan remained a concern on Monday. Two more men were killed in Jhal Magsi, bringing the death toll in the incident to four. Their bodies were found dumped along a roadside in the Ghathra area. They were identified as Maulvi Sadiq Abro and Liaquat Ali Abro.
According to police, five men were abducted by armed men on October 17 while travelling from Gandawah to Khari, within the jurisdiction of the Kotrah police station. Following the discovery of the bodies, police personnel and a large number of local residents reached the scene. Police took custody of the bodies and shifted them to the district hospital in Gandawah. After the completion of the necessary legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to their families. Police said further investigation into the incident was underway.
Man Shot Dead in Kachhi
In a separate incident, a young man was shot dead by armed assailants in the Sanni area of Kachhi district, police said. The victim was identified as Ghazi Khan, son of Roshan Khan Jatoi and a resident of Dera Murad Jamali.
Police said the armed men opened fire on him and fled the scene. Officers reached the area after the attack, took custody of the body and moved it to a hospital. Once the necessary legal formalities were completed, the body was handed over to the family of the deceased. Police said further investigation into the killing was also underway.
Why the Ban on Gatherings in Pishin Matters
Section 144 is a provision commonly used by provincial authorities to prohibit public gatherings when a threat to public order is anticipated. By placing a ban on gatherings in Pishin before operations are stepped up, the provincial administration has sought to limit crowds and movement in the district while security measures are carried out.
The announcement came on the same day that reports of fresh violence emerged from Jhal Magsi and Kachhi, underlining the pressure on the authorities to respond to the deteriorating law and order situation in several districts. The Balochistan government has not, in the reporting available, outlined the duration of the restriction or the specific operations planned. Residents of Pishin should therefore watch for further notifications from the district administration.
The next steps will be closely followed, both for the way the order is enforced in Pishin and for the progress of the investigations into the killings in Jhal Magsi and Kachhi.
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