CTD claims militants using BYC platform to recruit youth in Balochistan

QUETTA: Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Deputy Inspector General Aitzaz Goraya on Thursday claimed that militants were using the platform of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) to recruit young people into their networks.

Addressing a joint press conference with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, Goraya disclosed the arrest of a suspect from Turbat and the detention of several teenagers allegedly involved in militant facilitation and reconnaissance activities.

“One thing that has surfaced prominently is the role of the BYC. Every man or child who is facilitating or is involved in what they call a sharing or intelligence network is somehow linked to the BYC,” Goraya said.

He said the CTD, police and other law-enforcement agencies arrested Sajid Ahmad, also known as Shahwaiz, a resident of Turbat, during an operation in Panjgur. According to Goraya, Sajid was travelling from Panjgur to Turbat when he was apprehended.

A large cache of weapons and explosives was recovered from his vehicle, including a rocket-propelled grenade, five rockets, two M-16 rifles with 23 magazines and 800 rounds, 20 hand grenades with fuses, 30 C4 explosive slabs, remote controls, 13 UBGL rounds, a compass, helmets and detonating cord.

Goraya said the suspect held a Master’s degree in Sociology from the International Islamic University, Islamabad, had worked on contract at Zubaida Jalal Government College for three years, and later taught at the University of Turbat.

He alleged that Sajid had links with banned militant outfits BLF and BLA and had “remained with BYC and was in constant communication with its leadership”.

According to the CTD, mobile phone and forensic analysis led to the recovery of sensitive material, including a list of locations in Turbat such as the CTD complex, routes to Turbat Airport and an under-construction high court building.

Goraya said three other suspects had also been arrested and FIRs were being registered against them. One of them was identified as 18-year-old Sarfaraz from Kharan, who was allegedly tasked with reconnaissance of police and polio teams after being inducted into BYC and involved in its protests and roadblocks.

He said Sarfaraz was recruited by 20-year-old Jahanzaib, also known as Mehrbaan, who is now in custody. Goraya claimed Jahanzaib was involved in reconnaissance and transportation and had delivered large sums of extortion money and supplies on behalf of militants.

According to Goraya, Jahanzaib later inducted another 18-year-old, Bezan, into BYC, after which he allegedly joined the BLA. He added that Bezan’s brother was killed during an attack on the Levies force in Khad Kocha.

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Goraya further alleged that Jahanzaib participated in BYC roadblocks in Nushki and Kharan and helped organise protest participation and social media activity related to what he described as “so-called missing persons protests”.

“These are young people whose minds were subverted and who were gradually pushed towards militancy by assigning them small tasks,” he said.

Referring to militant groups designated by the state as Fitna-al-Hindustan, Goraya claimed that such outfits initially used the BYC platform and then relied on children and teenagers, whom he said were less likely to be thoroughly checked while moving to schools and colleges.

Pakistan has designated several Balochistan-based militant groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan, citing alleged foreign involvement in terrorism and destabilisation efforts.