The family members of missing Shoaib Baloch held a press conference in Turbat Press Club and demanded his safe release. They said that Shoaib Baloch, a student, was detained from the Gulistan-i-Johar area of Karachi in April, but the CTD acknowledged his “abduction” and labelled him a “terrorist” in July 4. They denied these allegations and said that the forces are levelling fabricated charges on Shoaib Baloch.
Accompanied by the Convenor of Turbat Civil Society, Gulzar Dost Baloch, the family members said that Shoaib Baloch was seeking admission to Karachi University. They said that he was a hardworking and diligent person and expressed concern that his “abduction” will jeopardize his career.
The family appealed to the judicial bodies of Pakistan to ensure the safe release of Shoaib Baloch.
The Pakistani government claims that it has busted a “terrorist cell” of the Baloch Liberation Army and the Baloch Liberation Front in Karachi. In a press conference on July 5, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon claimed that the Karachi University attack was a joint plan by the BLA and the BLF, in which a “neighbouring country” had played a role.
Memon said that after the attack, the Counter-Terrorism Department had gathered CCTV footage, and conducted geo-fencing and DNA sampling which had led to the arrest of the alleged commander of the BLF sleeper cell in Karachi. He identified the detainee as Dad Baksh who has been identified by his family as Shoaib Baloch.
Memon said that the detainee had come to Karachi to conduct a recce of different BLA targets in Karachi. He had also conducted a recce of sensitive installations and the Chinese working at the Karachi University, Memon said.