Quetta:
In a shocking and audacious attack, unknown armed assailants stormed a Qazi Court in Balochistan’s Kharan district, setting the judicial building on fire and kidnapping the presiding judge. The incident underscores the persistent and escalating security challenges facing state institutions in the province.
Senior police officials confirmed that a group of armed men entered the Qazi Court building in the Maskan Kalat area, approximately 30 kilometers from Kharan city, at around 11:30 am while the judge was hearing cases.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Rakhshan region, Abdul Hayee Aamir Baloch, confirmed the details: “Armed terrorists stormed into the court and set the courtroom and other sections of the Qazi Court on fire.”
The attackers held Judge Muhammad Jan and court staff hostage, proceeded to ransack records, and damaged office furniture. The court building was gutted by the fire, and all judicial records were destroyed.
DIG Baloch added that while fleeing after torching the offices, the assailants abducted the judge at gunpoint. “The terrorists kidnapped the Qazi Court judge and also made off with two vehicles, including the judge’s official vehicle and that of a lawyer,” he said.
Security forces, including the Frontier Corps, quickly cordoned off the area and immediately launched a search and rescue operation to trace the perpetrators and the kidnapped judge.
The attack on a judicial institution represents a serious escalation of violence in Balochistan. As of yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the brazen attack and abduction.
