Former JUI-F minister arrested for harassing communications secretary

QUETTA: Former provincial minister of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar Musakhail has been arrested in Quetta following serious allegations of harassment, physical assault, and threats against Balochistan Communications Secretary Lal Jan Jafar.

The arrest comes after multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against Sarwar in two separate police stations.

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According to official reports, Secretary Jafar accused Sarwar of storming into his office and verbally abusing him during a heated argument over development schemes. “He came to my office and said he had come to settle accounts with me,” Jafar stated in his complaint. He further alleged that the former minister not only harassed him at work but also attempted to attack his residence.

The situation escalated when, according to Jafar, Sarwar’s supporters began threatening his family. “Threatening messages were written on the door of my house,” the secretary said, adding that the intimidation tactics had created fear and distress among his family members.

Both Sarwar and Jafar hail from the same district, and local sources suggest a longstanding political rivalry, particularly over the allocation and execution of development projects, may have contributed to the tensions.

Law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest of Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar and said investigations are ongoing. They also said that the FIRs include multiple charges, including harassment, criminal intimidation, and attempted assault.

The text of FIR registered at Civil line Police Station, Quetta, Jafar said that the incident “took place in my office yesterday at approximately 2:30 PM involving Maulvi Sarwar Musakhail of JUI (F). He entered my office, Block No.7, Civil Secretariat Quetta, while I was doing my official work and asked my private secretary (PS) to leave the room to discuss an issue privately. Following his request, I instructed my PS to exit.”

“Once alone, Maulvi Sarwar Musakhail asked me to sit with him for “Hisab kitab” when I asked him to clarify, he stated that it pertains to various issues/losses related to my family’s opposition to his political camp. Feeling uncomfortable and threatened, I requested him to leave my office.”

“Maulvi Sarwar, then became aggressive, shouting threats of serious consequences to me and my family. Concerned for my safety, I rang the bell and requested my PS to return, as Mr Sarwar was using abusive language and exhibiting threatening behaviour that suggested a risk of physical assault. Upon my PS’s entry, Mr Sarwar left the room while continuing to shout and threaten.”

The FIR also mentioned that Maulvi Sarwar Musakhail has a documented history of bad behaviour and has physically assaulted government officials on multiple occasions in the past as well.

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Jafar said that, while he was at work, he received a WhatsApp message from his family, informing him that five-six persons (allegedly accomplices of Maulvi sarwar) had gone to his and had threatened and harassed his family members. While leaving the place, they also wrote threatening messages on the front door and wall of his house.