QUETTA: Security agencies foiled a terrorist attack in Balochistan on Independence Day, and arrested three men, including a “would-be suicide bomber”, Ba­­lochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference alongside police and government officials, CM Bugti claimed that suicide bombers had planned to target innocent citizens celebrating August 14.

Although he did not identify the three suspects, the recorded statement of a highly educated man — who was arrested for his alleged involvement in facilitating terrorists — was also played during the presser.

In the video, the man who identified himself as a university lecturer could be heard confessing to having links with terrorist groups.

The chief minister alleged the man had links to the Nov 2024 Quetta Railway Station bombing.

Warns people to stay away from ‘terrorist sympathisers’; says over 2,000 people on Fourth Schedule, including govt officials, are being investigated

CM Bugti noted that complete details were not being shared at the moment, as they could affect ongoing investigations.

He said that the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade operated in “three to four tiers” — with “foot soldier” being the lowest rung. The second tier included women who were used for targeted killings, while the lecturer was part of the top-most ‘sophisticated’ tier, he claimed, saying this was the first time the security forces had arrested someone from this ‘sophisticated tier’.

He also claimed that when the CTD tried to arrest the “would-be suicide bomber”, his neighbours intervened and tried to resist.

“I want to tell the people of Balochistan: we filed first information report) against all of them, every one of them is arrested.

“But please, stay away from these people. If you stay close to them, you will also be treated like a suicide bomber,” he advised.

“We are not in favour of collective punishment. But the Balochistan government will also see when relatives of those who join these groups do not alert their security agencies, political leadership or tribal elders, which means the entire family is involved,” he warned.

The chief minister also revealed that over 2,000 people, including government employees, were being investigated after being listed in the Fourth Schedule, adding that a number of names had been removed from the list after being found innocent.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025