Balochistan Assembly Speaker Announces Committee to Probe ‘Balochistan Leaks’

Quetta: The Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly has announced the formation of a committee, headed by Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, to investigate the so-called “Balochistan Leaks.”

Speaking on the floor of the Balochistan Assembly, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said he had been stressing from day one that social media had become unregulated, adding that legislation was needed to rein it in. He said he himself was the biggest victim of social media abuse and noted that political accountability takes place every five years.

The chief minister stated that the person who posted allegations against Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran had done so using an original phone number. He emphasized that if action was taken against two or three individuals as an example, future character assassination could be discouraged. He called for a committee to take action over the leaks.

Following the chief minister’s directions, the Speaker summoned the regional head of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and formally announced the formation of the committee under the leadership of Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran. The Speaker also said that members whose reputations were allegedly damaged would be included in the committee.

Leader of the Opposition Mir Younas Aziz Zehri said on a point of order that members of the provincial assembly and ministers were being defamed on social media under the name of “Balochistan Leaks.” He demanded that those responsible be brought before the public and cases registered under cybercrime laws.

Provincial Minister Abdul Rehman Khetran said the authorities were aware of where the links of the leaks were leading, alleging that individuals who spoke out more were being targeted through character assassination. He appealed for the formation of a high-level commission to investigate the matter, stating that he would resign if even five percent of the allegations were proven.

During the session, MPA Rehmat Saleh Baloch referred to the killing of his brother and called for efforts to extinguish the ongoing unrest in Balochistan. Zabad Reki questioned why his development schemes were removed from the 2023–24 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), to which Zahoor Buledi replied that a committee had decided to drop those schemes. The chief minister assured Zabad Reki that the issue would be resolved.

The assembly also discussed the drinking water crisis in Gwadar after Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman submitted a calling attention notice. Minister Abdul Rehman Khetran said steps were being taken to address the issue and that Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman had been made in charge of water supply in Gwadar. He noted that the province was facing severe drought and rapidly declining groundwater levels.

Chief Minister Bugti said the government’s top priority was ensuring drinking water supply to Gwadar. He claimed billions of rupees had been misappropriated in the past in Gwadar water projects and vowed to resign if even one rupee of corruption was proven in current efforts. He added that a Rs28 billion project was being planned to supply water from the Mirani Dam, for which the federal government would be approached.