Former Balochistan home minister acquitted in terror case

Quetta (Balochistan) [Pakistan], Jan 21 (ANI): Former Balochistan home minister Gazain Marri has been acquitted by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here in a terrorism case related to the killing of two paramilitary personnel and recovery of explosive materials from his possession.

According to the Dawn, the court acquitted him after the prosecution failed to prove charges against him.

Speaking to media outside the courtroom, Marri said, "We will compensate for the mistakes we have committed in the past. I acted earlier on the advice of my father, but now I will take all decisions on my own and with the consultation of friends and supporters".

"I want to play my role in the larger interest of Balochistan and my people so that the sense of deprivation among the Marri tribe which they have been experiencing for a long time should be removed", he added.

On October 10, 2017, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) ordered to release Marri, who was detained under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order.

Gazeen Marri, Son of the late Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, was detained in September 2017 by the Quetta deputy commissioner after being granted bail in the Justice Nawaz Marri murder case by an anti-terrorism court in Sibbi.

Earlier, he was arrested upon his return to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates after ending an 18 years self-imposed exile.

Dissatisfied with the reasons for Marri's detention, the court ordered Marri's release terming his detention "illegal". The divisional bench of BHC, comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove, gave orders to release Marri.

He was earlier arrested by the personnel of law enforcing agencies (LEAs) as soon as he landed at the Quetta international Airport on September 22 to end his 18-year-long self-exile.

In 2006, he was arrested in the United Arab Emirates at the request of the Pakistan authorities, in connection with the murder of high court judge Nawaz. He was later tried in an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan.

He lived in self-exile since 2000, Gazain is a younger brother of PML-N leader Nawab Jhangez Marri and elder brother of Hyarbyar Marri, the chief of the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), and Zamuran Marri, the chief of banned United Baluch Army (UBA). (ANI)