KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar on Monday revealed that security agencies successfully prevented a major tragedy in Karachi after taking a young Baloch girl into protective custody who had allegedly been radicalised for a suicide attack through online propaganda linked to banned outfits.
Addressing a press conference alongside senior Sindh police officials, the home minister said that timely intelligence and digital monitoring helped authorities intervene before the situation could escalate. He stated that the girl had been targeted and groomed through social media by elements associated with the proscribed organisations Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
According to Zia Lanjar, law enforcement agencies established contact with the girl through online platforms and managed to trace her movements, ultimately preventing what could have been a devastating incident in Karachi. He emphasized that extremist groups are increasingly exploiting women and underage girls, using emotional manipulation and propaganda to push them toward violence.
The minister warned that this trend reflects a dangerous shift in militant strategies, where vulnerable teenagers are deliberately indoctrinated. He stressed that using children and young women for violent acts is not resistance but a serious crime and an act of terrorism. Lanjar added that such groups prey on emotional weakness, family circumstances, and a lack of guidance to recruit individuals.
He confirmed that the girl’s identity is being kept strictly confidential and assured that the state is committed to protecting her dignity, safety, and future. “The government will ensure her rehabilitation and education so she can return to a normal life,” he said.
During the briefing, the girl’s statement was also shared. She explained that her exposure to hateful content began gradually on social media, where repeated messages and videos normalized extremist narratives. Over time, she said, communication intensified through private chats and WhatsApp groups, where violent activities were falsely portrayed as heroic.
The girl disclosed that recruiters exploited her personal circumstances, particularly the absence of her father, by showing false sympathy and trust. She said her studies were affected, and she was slowly conditioned to believe that self-sacrifice was the ultimate goal. Only later did she realize the severe consequences of the path she was being pushed toward.
“I am Baloch, and our culture teaches respect and dignity for women,” she said, rejecting the misuse of Baloch identity to justify violence. She emphasized that targeting women and girls goes against Baloch traditions and values.
The girl also warned other young people to be cautious online, stating that those who promote violence in the name of sacrifice are not supporters but predators. Authorities urged parents, educators, and social media users to remain vigilant and report suspicious online activity, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in radicalisation.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger online monitoring, community awareness, and youth protection programs to counter extremist propaganda and safeguard vulnerable individuals across the country.
