Quetta:
In a shocking development, the authorities on Sunday restored the body of Ziarat -assisting Commissioner Muhammad Afzal and his son, reliable sources. The two had been abducted almost two months ago from the Zerzari area of the Ziarat district of unidentified armed men.
Earlier this month, a video showed that the official and his son asked for their release and called for the prisoners’ demands to be met. No group has assumed responsibility for the killings.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the incident and called it a “feig and inhuman act.” He promised that the perpetrators would be brought to court and assure that no one involved in such crimes would be spared. The minister also expressed solidarity with the deprived family and promised that the government would use all resources to track those responsible.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a separate statement that they would not escape a terrible fate behind the brutal killings. He hailed glowing tribute to the assistant commissioner and described him as a dedicated, hardworking and skilled officer who “will always remain alive in our hearts.”
“The martyred assistant commissioner Muhammad Afzal reached the high rank of martyrdom while performing his duty,” Naqvi added, expanding compassion to the grieving family.
According to analysts, the incident emphasizes the sustained security challenges in Balochistan, where kidnappings and targeted attacks continue to cause fear among government officials as well as humans.
Ziarat, a scenic valley in northern Balochistan, famous for his Eineskove, has generally been peaceful. Over the past decade, however, terrorists have carried out occasional attacks in the district.
