University Lecturer Arrested for Planning Foiled Attack in Balochistan

Quetta, Aug 18 (AP) – Security forces in southwestern Pakistan have arrested a university lecturer accused of orchestrating a foiled suicide attack intended for last week's Independence Day celebrations in the insurgency-stricken Balochistan province, officials reported on Monday.

The suspect, Usman Qazi, is alleged to have affiliations with the outlawed Majeed Brigade, the suicide squad branch of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), according to the province's Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti.

During a press briefing in Quetta, Bugti presented video evidence showing Qazi admitting to plotting the failed attack, as well as assisting militants over recent years. It remains unclear if Qazi's statements were made under pressure.

Bugti did not specify the exact time of the arrest, merely stating that the suspect is still undergoing interrogation.

The apprehension follows the recent designation by the US State Department of BLA and the Majeed Brigade as foreign terrorist organizations. The group has already been banned domestically.

Bugti highlighted that this marks the first occasion security forces, acting on intelligence, have apprehended a senior figure from the Majeed Brigade. Qazi purportedly confessed to prior attacks, including last year's tragic bombing of a Quetta railway station that resulted in 32 casualties.

No immediate reactions were available from the BLA regarding the arrest.

Balochistan has long been a hotbed of violence, attributed to separatist factions such as the BLA. The resource-rich province hosts several projects linked to the lucrative China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, where insurgents have targeted Chinese nationals and Pakistani security personnel.

These separatist groups demand autonomy from Pakistan's central governance in Islamabad. Despite governmental claims of having subdued the insurgency, violence continues in the region. (AP) SCY SCY

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