Balochistan police on Tuesday took into custody former home minister Nawabzada Gazeen Marri, son of the late Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, after he was granted bail by Balochistan High Court (BHC) earlier in the day.

Sharing details of the latest development, police said Marri has been taken into custody for interrogation and to get information regarding the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army. The former home minister has been shifted to Cantt police station Quetta amid tight security.

However, incumbent Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said Gazeen Marri was wanted in bomb explosion and other terrorism cases, therefore he cannot be set free and will be tried in the court of law.

Earlier, the BHC had ordered the release of Gazeen Marri, who had been detained under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order.

Marri was detained last month by the Quetta deputy commissioner after being granted bail in the Justice Nawaz Marri murder case by an anti-terrorism court in Sibbi. He was earlier arrested upon his return to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates after ending an 18 years self-imposed exile.

The divisional bench of BHC, comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove, ordered Marri's release, terming his detention "illegal".

The bench questioned the Additional Advocate General Shehak Baloch about the reasons for Marri's detention, to which Baloch said that the home department could answer the court's query. The home secretary is participating in a joint border commission's meeting with Iranian authorities and is, therefore, unavailable, he said.

Dissatisfied with the answer, the court ordered Marri's release.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...