Quetta (Balochistan), October 20 (Udaipur Kiran): The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for four coordinated attacks in Mastung, Balghatar, and Soorab, killing three Pakistani army officers and looting their weapons. The insurgents also set fire to heavy machinery used at a construction site. In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen shot dead the brother of a provincial lawmaker in Panjgur, while protests erupted across the province after the government decided to merge the Levy Force with the police.

According to a report published by The Balochistan Post (Pashto) on October 19, BLA spokesperson Jeand Baloch stated that their commanders carried out four operations targeting the Pakistani army and its collaborators. The attacks took place in Mastung, Balghatar, and Soorab, leaving three officers dead. In Soorab, militants also seized weapons from security personnel, though the BLA lost two of its own members in the encounter.

Jeand Baloch said that on October 17, BLA fighters ambushed army troops in the desert area of Mastung and set ablaze heavy construction machinery near Maro area in Gondin, where a company was building a military checkpoint.

He further said that BLA forces used a remote-controlled IED to attack a military post at Kurki Chowki in Balghatar, killing one officer on the spot. On October 16, BLA commanders also captured a Levy checkpost at Mil Shahurai in Soorab, seizing weapons and ammunition. The spokesperson claimed that the post was allegedly involved in extortion activities. “BLA never targets the Levy Force, but we act against those officers who commit injustices,” he added.

In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen killed Walid Saleh Baloch, the brother of Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch, a member of the Balochistan Assembly and a central leader of the National Party. According to Panjgur police, the attack occurred late on October 19 near his residence in Chitkan area. Walid was the son of Haji Saleh Mohammad and younger brother of Malik Saleh Baloch, the district president of the National Party. The assailants fled the scene after the shooting.

Meanwhile, widespread protests have erupted across the province after the Balochistan government issued a notification to merge the 142-year-old Levy Force with the police. Levy officers and personnel held a large rally in Kalat, starting from the Levy headquarters and marching through Shahi Bazaar, Hospital Road, and Darbar Road before assembling again at the headquarters.

During the protest, Levy officers said the force has played a crucial role in maintaining peace and order in Balochistan and that previous attempts to merge it with the police had failed. “Repeating a failed experiment will only harm the province’s security structure,” one of the officers stated.