The Balochistan government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam Pumping Station No. 3 in Ziarat district, directing it to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent similar attacks in the future.
According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the attack took place on the night of July 6, resulting in the loss of lives and damage to critical public infrastructure. The provincial government said an inquiry was necessary to determine the factors that led to the attack, identify any negligence or operational shortcomings, and propose measures to strengthen the security of critical installations across the province.
Committee Composition and Terms of Reference
The committee will be headed by Muhammad Ali Kakar, chairman of the Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT). Its members include the secretary of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), a senior deputy inspector general of police to be nominated by the inspector general of police, Balochistan, and a representative of the Intelligence Bureau nominated by the agency's joint director general.
Under its terms of reference, the committee has been tasked with establishing the sequence of events before, during and after the attack, examining the deployment and preparedness of law enforcement agencies, evaluating their response, command and coordination, and determining whether there was any negligence, dereliction of duty, operational lapse or failure of command and control.
Review of Security Arrangements
It will also review whether the existing security arrangements and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for protecting the installation were adequate and properly implemented. The committee has been directed to identify individuals or organisations responsible for any lapses and recommend disciplinary, administrative or criminal action where warranted.
In addition, the panel will recommend immediate, medium-term and long-term measures to enhance the security of Mangi Dam and other critical infrastructure across Balochistan, besides proposing policy, institutional and operational reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Committee Powers and Timeline
The notification authorises the committee to summon officials, examine witnesses, inspect the site, obtain official records, seek expert opinion and co-opt technical experts, if required. It has been directed to submit its report to the provincial government within 15 days.
Protest Ends After CM Intervention
Separately, protesters ended their sit-in at Ziarat Cross and reopened the national highway late Tuesday after Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti visited the protest site and appealed to demonstrators to call off the blockade. The protest was staged by the families of police personnel martyred in the recent terrorist attack on a police checkpoint at Mangi Dam, along with local residents.
According to provincial authorities, at least nine police personnel, including two station house officers (SHOs), were martyred in the assault, while several others were abducted. Adviser to the chief minister on political and media affairs Shahid Rind said those martyred included the SHOs of Mangi and Kawas police stations, Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) in-charge Head Constable Saifullah, and several other police officials.
