Three ‘BLA activists’ remanded

Karachi
Three activists of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) arrested on charges of publishing and disseminating anti-state matter were remanded to police custody for three days by an anti-terrorism court on Monday.
The suspects, Adeel Ahmed, Raheel Ahmed and Majaz Ahmed, had earlier been produced before an anti-terrorism court on October 22 when they were remanded to police custody for interrogation.
The Investigation Officer (IO) told the anti-terrorism court (III) that the suspects had been arrested from a printing press situated in Ranchore Line area while being in possession of magazines with anti-state writings. The IO said the suspects were working in the press and taking advantage of their positions to print anti-state publications for distribution in Balochistan.
It said the suspects were affiliated with the BLA and also used to be in contact with its chief, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch. However, reports suggest that Dr Baloch was killed in an intelligence-based strike in a remote part of Balochistan in August this year, but no independent confirmations were made in this regard.
According to the FIR registered for the case, chairperson of the Baloch Students Organisations, Zahid Baloch, was arrested by security agencies last year. Meanwhile, BLA chief Dr Baloch also founded an Azad faction of the BSO.
Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, Zahid Baloch, Zakir Majeed Baloch, Shahmir Baloch, Imran Baloch and Tari Baloch were mentioned as absconders in the case registered under sections 121-A (conspiracy to commit or wage or attempt to commit or wage war or abetting war against Pakistan), 123-A (condemnation of creation of state and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 111 (liability of abettor when once act abetted and different acts done) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
Extortionist jailed
An extortionist Muneer Khan was awarded five years’ imprisonment by another anti-terrorism court.
He had been arrested last year within the remit of Orangi Town police station on the complaint of a local businessman Iqbal Ahmed. The anti-terrorism court (II) awarded five years’ imprisonment to Muneer after the prosecution was able to prove the charges of demanding money from Ahmed.