Silence of Government and Home Department Makes Jinnah Town Firing Incident More Sensitive: Victim’s Family

QUETTA: The killing of 20-year-old Safir Bajwa in alleged police firing in Quetta’s Jinnah Town area has triggered deep concern in the city, with the victim’s family and citizens raising serious questions over the incident amid continued silence from authorities.
According to initial reports, the deceased had obtained a Kabuli vehicle from the Sariab area. Police stated that the vehicle was signaled to stop, but the driver allegedly did not comply, after which firing was opened in the Jinnah Town area during an attempt to intercept the suspected vehicle. Police officials maintained that the firing was carried out to stop the vehicle, but the young man succumbed to his injuries.
The family of Safir Bajwa strongly rejected the police version, alleging that their son was subjected to unjustified and unnecessary firing. They said that law enforcement used excessive force without adopting legal alternatives such as pursuit or establishing checkpoints, resulting in the death of their young son.
According to sources, the body was shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for legal formalities and later handed over to the family. The relatives reportedly refused post-mortem examination, due to which no medical examination was conducted.
Another key concern raised after the incident is that the SHO of Jinnah Town Police Station neither visited the crime scene nor contacted the family at the hospital, drawing strong criticism from citizens and relatives.
Sources further stated that officials of the Home Department have also avoided giving a clear statement on the sensitive incident, and no official explanation has yet been provided. This silence has made the situation more questionable and sensitive.
Citizens and civil society members argued that if the vehicle was suspicious, police had legal options such as surveillance, pursuit, or checkpoints, but direct firing was an extreme measure that resulted in the loss of a young life.
The affected family has demanded immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation into the incident, identification of the officials involved, and strict legal action against those responsible.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over police powers, use of force, and civilian safety in Quetta, with the public now seeking clear answers from the authorities.