After an Anti-terrorism court in Sibi granted bail to Nawabzada Gazeen Marri, the son of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri in a 2004 murder case on Friday, Quetta district administration detained him under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

According to a press release issued by the Quetta deputy commissioner, Marri was shifted to district jail Quetta amid tight security under the MPO.

Section 3 of the MPO states: "The government, if satisfied that with a view to preventing any person from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety or the maintenance of public order, may by an order in writing direct his arrest and detention."

Earlier today, ATC judge Muhammad Rafiq Langove granted bail to the former home minister in connection with a murder case registered against Marri in 2004 at the Manjara levies station Kohlu, and asked him to submit surety bonds worth Rs0.4 million.

A landmine blast in Kohlu's Mavand tehsil in June 2004 had killed civilians. Subsequently, the Levies had registered murder and terrorism cases against Gazeen Marri.

The court directed Marri to submit surety bonds worth Rs0.4 million to secure the bail, the counsel for Gazeen Marri, Arbab Tahir Advocate told DawnNews.

Gazeen Marri arrived in Quetta a week ago from the United Arab Emirates, bringing an end to his 18-year long self-imposed exile.

Upon his arrival, police arrested Marri in the murder case of Justice Nawaz Marri, senior judge of Balochistsn High Court. Justice Nawaz Marri was murdered on January 7, 2000.

On Monday, a district and sessions court in Quetta had granted interim bail to Gazeen Marri in the murder case of Justice Nawaz Marri.

Earlier, Gazeen Marri had explained to the media that he had gone into exile on his father’s instructions. “I made attempts to return home earlier and serve the people but was faced with roadblocks on every step of the way,” Marri said.

“Some people are scared of my return. I want to clarify that I have no personal designs or objectives. I accept the ground realities prevailing in the province and will live with them,” he added.