QUETTA: An inquiry committee formed by the Balochistan government to investigate into the suicide of a 17-year-old student of the Government Girls Degree College, Muslim Bagh, has submitted its report to the education department.

Provincial Education Secretary Abdul Saboor Khan Kakar confirmed on Tuesday: “I have received the inquiry report”.

However, he said the report had not been made public and would be presented to Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri after his return to Quetta.

The chief minister, members of his cabinet, the chief secretary and other officials were in Dubai to watch the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between the Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators cricket teams.

“The inquiry report will be made public after approval of the chief minister,” Mr Kakar said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal also supported appointment of a judicial commission for the inquiry.

Talking to reporters, Mr Ziaratwal said that after completion of the inquiry by the three-member committee, there was no pressure on the education department in this regard.

“We had already suspended the principal of the college after the suicide incident was reported,” he said.

However, the provincial government has not yet announced the judicial commission demanded by the family of the victim that has also called for registration of a case against the principal and other officials concerned of the college.

Two sisters and friends of late Saqiba Hakim Kakar are observing a token hunger strike in Muslim Bagh in protest against the government’s refusal to register the FIR. “We will continue our hunger strike till registration of the FIR,” Saqiba’s sister Naila Kakar said.

When contacted, a police official said: “We will register the FIR in view of the findings and recommendations of the inquiry committee.”

An adjournment motion about the incident was moved by the JUI-F’s MPA Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetiran in the Balochistan Assembly, but the speaker did not allow taking up the issue because the inquiry was under way.

Political parties and members of the civil society are also protesting over the incident and demanding that those responsible should be brought to justice.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016