QUETTA: The Levies Force registered a case against provincial Minister for Food and Population Welfare Sardar Abdul Rehman Khan Khetiran and his “two guards” on Sunday over the murder of a social media activist, Anwar Jan Khetiran.

The activist was murdered on July 23 by some armed men in Naharkot, in Balochistan’s Barkhan district, when he was on his way home on a motorbike.

Officials of the Levies Force said that Anwar Jan’s brother had nominated Sardar Khetiran and his two guards, Adam Khan and Nadir Khan, in the case. The complaint was filed by Ghulam Sarwar Khetiran, the elder brother of the slain man.

According to the complaint, Anwar had been writing since long on social and other problems of his area and about atrocities and alleged corruption of the minister.

Ghulam Sarwar alleged that about two months ago Sardar Khetiran warned Anwar and asked him to quit the “profession of journalism”.

He claimed that at Sardar Khetiran’s behest his guards killed his brother. He also nominated the minister in his FIR that was registered in the Levies Thana, Naharkot.

When contacted, Sardar Khetiran denied the allegations levelled by the slain activist’s brother. “I have nothing to do with the murder of Anwar Jan,” the minister said, adding that the two other persons nominated in the FIR were not security guards.

“I have no enmity with Anwar Jan Khetiran’s family,” he said.

Anwar’s other brother, Mohammad Akbar Khetiran, said his brother used to write on social media platforms about the problems faced by the people of his area. He said Anwar also used to work for a daily published in Punjab, called Naveed Pakistan.

However, some journalists in Barkhan said Anwar was not a member of the local press club. But he did post comments on social media platforms.

He was affiliated to the National Party.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2020