Balochistan Assembly Takes Strong Stand Against ‘Balochistan Leaks’, Orders Cybercrime Probe

Quetta: The Balochistan Provincial Assembly on Tuesday adopted a firm
and unanimous stance against what it termed as baseless, misleading
and defamatory propaganda being carried out under the name of
“Balochistan Leaks” on social media, declaring such activities
intolerable and damaging to democratic institutions.

In the light of a clear ruling by Speaker Balochistan Assembly Abdul
Khaliq Khan Achakzai, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency
(NCCIA) was summoned to initiate legal proceedings against the
operators of the controversial social media page allegedly involved in
organized character assassination of elected members.

The House reaffirmed that the Assembly would not bow before blackmail,
false allegations or smear campaigns, and that all those involved
would be brought to justice through legal means.

The issue was raised on a point of order by Leader of the Opposition
Younas Aziz Zehri, who stated that the said social media page was
systematically targeting Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs)
through false narratives and malicious propaganda, undermining the
credibility of democratic institutions.

Several members, including Speaker Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai, Leader
of the Opposition Younas Aziz Zehri, Asghar Ali Rind, Rehmat Saleh
Baloch, Farah Azeem Shah, Khair Jan Baloch, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman
Baloch, Noor Muhammad Dummar, Ali Madad Jattak, Sanjay Kumar and Fazal
Qadir Mandokhail, participated in the discussion. Secretary Assembly
Tahir Shah Kakar and Additional Director NCCIA Tariq Khan were also
present.

Speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition Younas Aziz Zehri
said that leveling baseless allegations against elected
representatives under the guise of accountability was condemnable and
unacceptable. He demanded that those behind the smear campaign be
exposed.

Rehmat Saleh Baloch emphasized the need for a transparent and
comprehensive investigation into fake and misleading social media
accounts, stating that unsubstantiated allegations amounted to
character assassination.

Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch said accountability was a fundamental
principle and lawmakers were ready for it, but lies, negative
propaganda and fabricated campaigns could not be allowed. He stressed
that those responsible must be dealt with strictly in accordance with
the law.

Farah Azeem Shah said constructive accountability was welcome, but
“Balochistan Leaks” as a platform was engaged in negative propaganda.
She expressed hope that the cybercrime department would take timely
and effective action.

Noor Muhammad Dummar stated that if elected representatives were
corrupt, the public would not have repeatedly placed their trust in
them. He said such campaigns were an attempt to malign not only
lawmakers but the overall image of Balochistan.

Ali Madad Jattak pointed out that a coordinated campaign was being run
through fake IDs, while anti-state elements were exploiting minor
issues to damage reputations.

Sanjay Kumar noted that similar cases in the past had not always
received serious attention, making decisive action in this case
imperative.

Addressing the House, Speaker Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai said the
Assembly would go beyond mere statements and ensure concrete action.
He acknowledged that corruption was a serious issue, but stressed that
allegations without evidence were unacceptable. He invited the public
to independently review ongoing and completed development schemes.

The Speaker categorically stated that if the objective of “Balochistan
Leaks” was blackmail, the Assembly would not be intimidated. He asked
the cybercrime authorities about the timeframe required to take the
case to its logical conclusion.

Briefing the House, Additional Director NCCIA Tariq Khan said that
arrests in defamation cases require court orders; however, preliminary
action had already begun. He said proceedings would be conducted under
Sections 20 and 26-A of relevant cyber laws and suggested filing a
collective complaint.

Secretary Assembly Tahir Shah Kakar clarified that the Speaker’s
ruling effectively constituted a collective complaint, while
individual members could also submit separate complaints if needed.

Concluding the session, the Speaker directed that all legal and
administrative resources be utilized to first identify and expose the
operators of the said social media page and ensure punishment in
accordance with the law. He made it clear that no one would be given
leniency and expressed confidence that the cybercrime department would
soon report tangible progress.