QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN, Nov. 14: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has announced that senior commander Rehman Gul, also known as Mureed, is its new commander-in-chief. He replaces Bashir Zeb Baloch.
In a statement issued on Saturday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said the group’s Senior Command Council selected Rehman Gul unanimously. The spokesperson said the decision followed internal consultation and the full backing of the BLA’s leadership and all its commanders.
The statement said Rehman Gul was previously a member of the Senior Command Council and commander of the Majeed Brigade, the BLA’s suicide unit. It said he has wide experience commanding key posts within the organisation. The BLA also said that under the new leadership its struggle for “national independence” will continue “with new energy and full intensity”.
On Nov. 3, the BLA announced that Bashir Zeb was stepping down and that all administrative, military, and policymaking powers were being transferred to the Senior Command Council, with a new chief to be named “soon.”
