Killing of Hayat Baloch explained

Killing of Hayat Baloch
Location:Absor Turbat, Balochistan, Pakistan
Target:Hayat Baloch
Date:13 August 2020
Type:Extrajudicial killing
Fatalities:Hayat Baloch
Injuries:3 FC servicemen
Perpetrator:Shadiullah, a Frontier Corps serviceman
Motive:Suspected involvement in a bomb blast
Verdict:Death penalty for Shadiullah

Hayat Baloch was a BS Physiology student at University of Karachi from Balochistan. He was killed on 13 August 2020 by a serviceman of Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary force in Pakistan, in Absor Turbat after a bomb blast.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The accused serviceman was identified to be Shadiullah and was arrested on 20 August 2020. The accused later confessed to his crimes and was awarded death penalty by a local court in Turbat District on 20 January 2021. Hayat's family expressed satisfaction over the verdict issued by the court.

Incident

On August 13, an FC vehicles was targeted by an improvised explosive device at Balochi Bazaar on Absar Road, injuring three FC serviceman. Following the explosion, security personnel launched search operation in the area and during the operation one of the FC serviceman named Shadiullah caught Hayat Baloch and killed him after tying his hands to his back.[5]

Hayat was working in the garden which was close to the site of explosion. So the FC serviceman suspected that Hayat was responsible for the attack on their vehicle.

Following the incident, other FC serviceman in the area overpowered Shadiullah and disarmed him immediately.[6]

Reaction

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazariissued a statement in the national assembly of Pakistan and condemned the incident.[7]

Inspector General of FC South went to the house of the deceased to express grief over the incident.

Response

On 20 August 2020, the FC serviceman responsible for killing Hayat was arrested.[8] The accused FC serviceman later confessed to his crime and was awarded death penalty on 21 January 2021 by a local court in Turbat district.[5] [9]

Hayat's family expressed satisfaction over the verdict.[10] Hayat's uncle, Hakeem Baloch, said that he was quite satisfied with the verdict and that the court has provided them with justice.[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Nasir . Abbas . 16 August 2020 . Travesty unlimited . dawn.com . 19 August 2020.
  2. News: Khan . Asim . 18 August 2020 . Pakistan minister demands inquiry into Baloch student's killing in Turbat . samaa.tv . 19 August 2020.
  3. News: Ali . Noor ul Ain . 18 August 2020 . #JusticeForHayatBaloch trends on Twitter as netizens mourn his death . dailytimes.com.pk . 19 August 2020.
  4. News: Kazem . Mohammad . 17 August 2020 . حیات بلوچ کے مبینہ قتل کا معاملہ: طالب علم کے والد نے شناخت پریڈ میں مبینہ ملزم ایف سی اہلکار کو شناخت کر لیا . bbc.com . 19 August 2020.
  5. News: Shahid . Saleem . 21 January 2021 . FC man sentenced to death for killing student in Turbat . Dawn News .
  6. News: Father recognises Hayat’s killer in identification parade. 20 August 2020. Dawn News.
  7. News: Those involved in Hayat Baloch's murder should be punished: Shireen Mazari. tribune.
  8. News: FC soldiers involved in Hayat Baloch's murder taken into custody. tribune. 20 August 2020.
  9. News: Court awards death sentence to FC soldier. Mohammed Zafar. 20 January 2021. Express Tribune.
  10. News: Court awards death sentence to FC soldier. Samaa News. 20 January 2021.
  11. News: 20 January 2021 . Balochistan: FC official sentenced to death for killing student Hayat Baloch . Ling News 24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120153431/https://www.lingnews24.com/balochistan-fc-official-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-student-hayat-baloch/ . 20 January 2021.