QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly witnessed strong protests on Wednesday over the killing of the father of Asma Jatak in Khuzdar, with lawmakers staging a walkout and demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. Speaker Captain (retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai gave law enforcement authorities two days to apprehend the accused.
Asma first drew national attention in 2024 when she was allegedly abducted by influential tribal men. Provincial Minister Haji Ali Madad Jatak described the incident as deeply tragic, recalling that Asma Jatak had earlier released a video expressing fears for her safety. He said her fiancé had previously been killed and now her father had also been murdered, while an FIR was not registered despite passage of two days. Warning that continued denial of justice could lead to further unrest, he announced a symbolic walkout from the assembly. Leader of the Opposition Mir Younas Aziz Zehri joined the walkout, declaring that if the killers were not arrested, the Chief Minister and the Provincial Interior Minister would bear responsibility for the incident.
Speaking on a point of order, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MPA Mir Zabad Ali Reki called for a transparent investigation into the murder, urging the government to bring the killers to justice. He said his party believed in the politics of justice rather than exploiting tragedies, and also criticised the attitude of federal ministers during recent meetings in Islamabad.
During the debate, Haq Do Tehreek MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman alleged that everyone knew who was behind the killing but was unwilling to name the suspect. Maulana Hidayatur Rehman became tearful while speaking about the incident, saying the people of Balochistan were ashamed of what had happened to Asma Jatak. He further stated that if the killer was not arrested and senior police officers, including the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General, were not held accountable, lawmakers should consider resigning from the assembly.
Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove assured the House that the provincial government stood with Asma Jatak’s family. He said Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had remained in contact with the bereaved family throughout the previous night and that police were conducting raids to arrest the suspect. He pledged that the accused would be arrested within two days, regardless of his influence or status. Minister Noor Muhammad Dummar also condemned the recent attack in Ziarat, describing it as a painful incident. He praised police personnel for bravely confronting the attackers and urged political leaders to unite against terrorism instead of politicising such tragedies.
Initially, Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai directed that the Inspector General of Police, DIG Khuzdar and SP Khuzdar be summoned to his chamber. However, he later revised his ruling, giving police a two-day deadline to arrest the suspect instead. The assembly session was later adjourned until August 28.
