Security forces have foiled a major terrorist attack allegedly planned by the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for Independence Day, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti announced on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Bugti said the plot was part of a wider plan to destabilize Pakistan. “This was not just an attack; it was a conspiracy to break Pakistan. Our agencies acted swiftly and crushed it,” he stated.
He confirmed the arrest of Professor Usman Qazi, a government employee with a PhD in Pakistan Studies, who allegedly facilitated the BLA. The professor reportedly admitted his links with the group in a recorded statement, detailing how he was recruited while visiting Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
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According to Bugti, Qazi was also involved in the November 2024 Quetta Railway Station bombing that killed 32 and injured more than 50 people. He allegedly transported the bomber on a motorcycle before handing him over to another handler. Qazi also claimed he provided shelter and medical aid to militants and maintained communication with BLA operatives through encrypted apps.
Bugti said that between 2,000 and 2,500 government employees are currently under scrutiny as part of counterterrorism efforts, with a dedicated cell established to track extremist activity. Rejecting the perception of deprivation in the province, he remarked,
“To those who insist Balochistan is deprived, I ask—how was this professor deprived?” He described such claims as propaganda and warned citizens, particularly parents, to prevent youth from being influenced by militant organizations.
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The chief minister stressed that the government, working alongside security forces, is determined to eliminate terrorism from the province. “We are the state, not terrorists. Those who kill in the name of Baloch identity will face the National Action Plan,” he said.
Balochistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks in recent months. Just last month, a passenger bus was ambushed, killing at least three people, while multiple trains across the province have also been targeted, highlighting the persistent threat of violence.
