Identification parade: Hayat Baloch’s father recognizes FC soldier

The father of Hayat Baloch who was allegedly killed by a soldier of the Frontier Corps (FC), identified the suspect in Turbat district jail on Wednesday, Dawn reported.

Hayat, a student of Karachi University, was  shot eight times by the FC soldier after being taken to a date orchard following a blast in the Absar area of Turbat in Balochistan.

Suspect Shadiullah is already in police custody and a murder case has been registered against him on the complaint of the victim’s elder brother, Muhammad Murad Baloch.

The identification parade was held in the jail under the supervision of a judicial magistrate. Other prisoners were also brought along with the suspect.

Meanwhile, the FC Balo­chistan issued a statement on the incident. It said that on Aug 13 a tragic incident took place in Turbat in which terrorists targeted an FC convoy with an IED (improvised explosive device) in the Absar area, resulting in injuries to three personnel, including a non-commissioned officer.

After the incident, the statement said, some local people, including Hayat Baloch, who were present in the area, were being interrogated about the incident. During the interrogation, FC soldier Naik Shadiullah demonstrating irresponsible attitude opened fire, resulting in injuries to Hayat Baloch, who succumbed to his wounds on the spot.

The FC personnel present on the occasion overpowered the suspect and disarmed him immediately, it added.

The statement said that after the incident and initial internal inquiry the FC South inspector general ordered handing over of the suspect to police. The FC handed over the suspect to police within two hours, before his nomination in the incident. The notables of the area had welcomed the FC gesture, it added.

The statement said that although it was a crime committed by an individual, the FC Balochistan as an institution had deplored the tragic incident and strongly condemned the IED blast by terrorists and express solidarity with victims.

“We had taken responsibility to protect the lives, properties and honour of our citizens … and FC Balochistan would continue performing its duties without any discrimination. The culprits behind the IED blast and the killer of Hayat Baloch would surely face the consequences of their crimes; such incidents would not be allowed to happen in future,” the FC statement added.