Bayazid Khan Kharoti, a prominent social media activist and founder of “Choti Chirya,” a widely followed page on social media platforms, was reportedly detained by unidentified individuals in the Koila Phatak area of Quetta and subsequently taken to an undisclosed location.
According to eyewitnesses, men dressed in plainclothes, identifying themselves as officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), detained Kharoti, claiming the arrest was made under a court warrant. However, no uniformed officers were present during the operation. Witnesses also reported that Kharoti was handcuffed and forcibly taken away.
Efforts by bystanders to intervene were met with warning shots fired into the air by the unidentified individuals, dispersing the crowd.
Sources within the FIA indicated that the arrest is linked to an investigation into reports published by “Choti Chirya” regarding allegations against the Commissioner of Quetta. Despite these claims, the FIA has yet to officially confirm or deny its involvement in Kharoti’s detention.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that the provincial government had no role in the incident, adding that no official department under its jurisdiction was involved in the arrest.
The arrest has sparked widespread outrage on social media and led to protests, with demonstrators blocking Khaizi Chowk to all traffic. Protesters are demanding Kharoti’s immediate release and a transparent explanation of the circumstances surrounding his detention.