Balochistan CM seeks report on PTM leader Arman Loni’s death

–PTM MNAs banned from entering Balochistan

Taking notice of the death of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) member Arman Loni who was killed in a police crackdown on a sit-in being held in the Loralai district of Balochistan, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Sunday directed commissioner of Zhob district to submit a report to him within 48 hours.

The family of late PTM leader said that he was killed in a police crackdown and demanded the provincial government to take notice of his death. However, the Quetta SSP operations said that no signs of violence or injuries were found on Loni’s body in the postmortem examination.

Awami National Party (ANP) on Sunday also said that an inquiry should be carried out into the incident.

Earlier, PTM MNA Mohsin Dawar said that he and fellow parliamentarian and PTM leader Ali Wazir have been banned by the Balochistan government from entering the province “to stop us from attending the funeral of Arman Loni”.

Dawar also shared a notification which stated that Loralai Range’s deputy inspector general of police had recommended the ban on the two PTM leaders and their supporters “in the best interest of public peace and security”.

According to the notification, the provincial government “has reasons to believe that circumstances exist that demand extraordinary vigilance and extensive security means to preempt any untoward incident”.

“Under sub-section (5)(1)(a) and (c) of the Balochistan Maintenance Public Order Ordinance 1960, the government is pleased to impose a ban on entry of Dawar and Wazir along with their supporters with immediate effect for ninety [90] seven days,” the notification further stated.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar termed the ban “shameful, disgusting”.

“Banning MNAs from entering Balochistan and stopping PTM workers from attending funeral of Arman Loni most shameful, disgusting. By remaining silent mainstream media is undermining itself. Speak up for the oppressed today so that tomorrow others speak up when you are oppressed,” he said in a tweet.

The sit-in during which Loni was killed was staged against continued violence and the alleged forced eviction of locals from the area in the backdrop of an attack that shook the country on January 29.

Nine people, including five civilians and three policemen, were killed and 21 others suffered injuries in suicide bombing and firing by militants on the office complex of the Zhob Range deputy inspector general (DIG) in Loralai.

While there is no official version to Loni’s death as of yet, according to witnesses, the police opened fire on peaceful protesters demanding rest in the troubled district.