Quetta: The issue of armed individuals looting banks in Panjgur district strongly echoed in the Balochistan Assembly on Monday, triggering serious concerns over the law and order situation in the area.
During the assembly session, Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Rehmat Baloch raised the matter and questioned the performance of local law enforcement agencies. He stated that armed men had looted banks in Panjgur and demanded an explanation regarding the role of the District Police Officer (DPO) and police officials amid the prevailing security situation.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti informed the house that the armed suspects entered the banks disguised as customers. He revealed that the assailants carried out their operation for approximately 20 minutes before fleeing the scene.
The Chief Minister confirmed that during the incident, one police official embraced martyrdom while another sustained injuries. He added that security forces responded promptly, forcing the attackers to escape. “Our forces took action, due to which the armed individuals managed to flee,” CM Bugti said while addressing the assembly.
He further assured the concerned MPA that he would personally provide complete details of the incident, including security lapses and subsequent actions taken by law enforcement agencies.
The discussion highlighted growing concerns among lawmakers regarding the deteriorating law and order situation in certain districts of Balochistan, particularly in Panjgur, which has witnessed sporadic security incidents in recent months.
Meanwhile, the assembly session also addressed issues related to the misuse of social media. Legal action was initiated against individuals involved in character assassination of assembly members on social media platforms, reflecting the government’s stance against online harassment and defamation.
Additionally, several questions related to the Labour Department were postponed due to the absence of the concerned provincial minister, causing brief disruption in the assembly proceedings.
The incident has renewed debates over internal security, police preparedness, and the need for enhanced surveillance and intelligence-based operations in vulnerable districts of Balochistan.
