Quetta, August 18, 2025: Security forces have foiled a major terrorist plot allegedly planned by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to target Independence Day celebrations, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti revealed on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Bugti said the attack was designed to “break Pakistan and destabilise Balochistan,” but was thwarted through timely intelligence. He identified Professor Usman Qazi, a government employee with a PhD in Pakistan Studies, as the prime suspect, alleging that he acted as a facilitator for the BLA.
Qazi, now in custody, has reportedly confessed on video to links with the group. According to Bugti, he first came into contact with BLA operatives during a visit to Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, where he was recruited by militants. He is also accused of helping orchestrate the November 2024 Quetta Railway Station bombing, which killed 32 people.
The chief minister said Qazi provided shelter, medical aid, and logistical support to BLA militants and was in communication with commanders through encrypted apps. Investigators are now probing up to 2,500 government employees for possible links to banned outfits, Bugti added.
Rejecting claims that Balochistan is deprived, Bugti remarked: “In what way was this professor deprived? Such narratives are propaganda.” He urged parents to keep a close watch on their children and warned that anyone joining extremist groups would face the full force of the law.
“We are the state, not terrorists,” he said, vowing that the provincial government and security forces would continue their operations until terrorism was eliminated from the province.
Balochistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence, with recent ambushes and repeated attacks on railway stations highlighting the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups.
