Mangi Dam Inquiry Told Security Warnings Were Ignored Before Attack
Mangi Dam Inquiry Told Security Warnings Were Ignored Before Attack
Security warnings about militant activity in Balochistan’s Mangi sector were issued months before the terrorist attack on Mangi Dam but were not acted upon, the judicial commission probing the assault heard on Thursday. The open hearing in Quetta brought together political figures, government officials and the families of victims, as the Mangi Dam attack inquiry began recording evidence in public.
The commission is headed by Justice Aamir Nawaz Rana. Testimonies taken on Thursday ranged from allegations of ignored intelligence to the plight of bereaved families and the state’s handling of fake news after the attack.
Mangi Dam attack inquiry hears of warnings from July
Former Balochistan Assembly member Nasrullah Khan Zayrai told the commission he had alerted senior provincial authorities, including the chief minister and the chief secretary, about terrorist activity in the Mangi sector as early as July 6. He said officials were warned again after police personnel were taken hostage, yet no immediate tactical action was ordered to counter the threat.
If the testimony holds, it raises difficult questions about the security response in a region that has seen repeated militant violence. Warnings that go unheeded are a recurring theme in post-attack investigations across the country, and the commission will need to establish exactly who knew what, and when, before it can fix responsibility.
The hearing comes at a time when Balochistan remains one of the hardest-hit provinces in Pakistan’s fight against militancy. Attacks on infrastructure, security personnel and civilians have continued through 2026, and public inquiries like this one are meant to turn lessons from each incident into policy.
Commission displeased over fake news response
The commission showed serious displeasure when Pakistan Telecommunication Authority officials failed to provide satisfactory details of legal action taken against fake news spread on social media after the attack. Misinformation following militant attacks has become a familiar problem, with false claims and doctored images circulating within minutes and complicating both the response and the grieving process.
Justice Rana directed the Director of the PTA’s Web Analysis Division to appear in person at the next hearing and to file a comprehensive report on social media monitoring and enforcement. The direction puts the regulator on notice: the commission expects concrete answers, not general assurances.
Compensation for bereaved families
The commission was briefed on the financial assistance announced for the families of those killed. The Additional Secretary Home said a summary to increase the Martyrs’ Compensation Package had been sent to the chief minister for approval, with a formal notification to follow after cabinet clearance.
The Finance Department told the commission that compensation funds for the families of martyrs would be fully exempt from tax deductions, removing one potential burden from grieving households.
In a separate development, the commission took immediate notice of a complaint by a martyr’s widow who said some people were attempting to extort her compensation money through intimidation. The intervention underlines the vulnerability of victims’ families in the aftermath of such attacks, and the commission’s willingness to act on their complaints directly.
Frequently asked questions
Who heads the Mangi Dam attack inquiry?
The judicial commission is headed by Justice Aamir Nawaz Rana. It held an open hearing in Quetta on Thursday, October 8.
What did the former MPA tell the commission?
Nasrullah Khan Zayrai testified that he warned senior provincial authorities, including the chief minister and chief secretary, about terrorist activity in the Mangi sector as early as July 6, but no immediate tactical action was ordered.
What did the commission ask the PTA to do?
After PTA officials failed to give satisfactory details of action against fake news spread after the attack, Justice Rana directed the Director of the PTA’s Web Analysis Division to appear in person at the next hearing with a comprehensive report on social media monitoring and enforcement.
What compensation has been announced for the victims’ families?
A summary to raise the Martyrs’ Compensation Package has been sent to the chief minister for approval, and the Finance Department confirmed that compensation funds for martyrs’ families are fully exempt from tax deductions.
