Outrage in Balochistan: Teacher’s Killing Sparks Mass Protests
Residents of Pasni protest the killing of teacher Parvez Mazar, accusing Pakistani forces of shielding the suspects.
Tensions have reached a breaking point in Pasni, Balochistan, as residents and grieving family members take to the streets following the brutal killing of Parvez Mazar, a respected schoolteacher. The community is now accusing Pakistani security forces of actively protecting the suspects involved in the crime, leading to warnings of major infrastructure blockades if justice is not served.
A Tragic Disappearance and Discovery
Parvez Mazar served as an Arabic teacher at the Government High School Babbar Shor. His death has sent shockwaves through the region, particularly due to the circumstances surrounding his final hours. According to his relatives, Mazar was abducted in broad daylight from in front of his own family.
The horror deepened when his body was discovered in Pasni just one day after his disappearance. Family members allege that he was snatched by an armed group—described by them as a state-backed "death squad"—and transported to a private torture facility where he was detained and killed.
Protests at Pasni Press Club
Driven by grief and anger, the children of the deceased teacher joined a large crowd of protesters outside the Pasni Press Club. The demonstrators issued a clear and urgent demand: the immediate arrest of every individual responsible for the teacher's death.
The protesters are not just seeking arrests but are calling for full accountability, insisting that the state must ensure the grieving family receives genuine justice rather than empty promises.
Allegations of State Protection
A central point of the outrage is the claim that the perpetrators are being shielded. Protesters alleged that the specific individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR) related to the killing are currently being sheltered by Pakistani forces.
The demonstrators have demanded that these suspects be handed over to the police immediately to face legal proceedings. This incident highlights a recurring and volatile issue in the region; Baloch rights organizations and activists frequently point to "death squads"—armed groups they claim are supported or protected by state institutions—to target civilians, human rights defenders, and political activists.
Threats of Highway Blockade
The protesters have warned that they will not remain silent if their demands are ignored. They have threatened to escalate their actions by:
- Organizing a massive sit-in at the Pasni Zero Point.
- Completely shutting down the Makran Coastal Highway, a strategically vital artery for the region.
By threatening to choke this critical transport route, the community aims to force the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and stop the alleged cover-up.
A Call for Systemic Change
Addressing the gathering, the protesters urged state institutions to stop the operation of armed groups that allegedly function under the cover of state agencies. They called for an end to the cycle of abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings of civilians in Balochistan, demanding that the law apply equally to all, regardless of their affiliations.