August 30, 2024
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the recent deadly terrorist attacks in Balochistan were a “wicked scheme” devised by militants, as he visited the province to assess the security situation there.
In the latest flare-up of violence, dozens of militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — a separatist outfit — launched numerous attacks on Sunday midnight across Balochistan, targeting security personnel as well as civilians.
At least 50 people, including 14 security men, lost their lives as militants went on a rampage across the province, storming police stations, blowing up railway tracks, and setting fire to almost three dozen vehicles. In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants.
Among those killed were 23 people in Musakhail, mostly labourers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and vans and shot dead after an identity check.
After his arrival in Quetta earlier today, PM Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting of the National Action Plan’s provincial apex committee.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal as well as other top government and security officials.
“Terrorist organisations and the khawarij, who are Pakistan’s enemies, and infiltrators from within concocted this impure scheme, as a result of which Pakistanis were martyred,” the premier told the committee.
“There has been a wave of great concern among the people across Pakistan due to the recent heartrending incident that occurred in Balochistan,” PM Shehbaz said.
“Everyone is aggrieved on this incident,” the prime minister noted.
“However, I think that at the moment, we have to decide that we must fully eradicate terrorism from Balochistan through our collective vision, power, and unwavering determination,” the premier asserted.
Highlighting that the province was “extremely important and beautiful”, PM Shehbaz stressed the need to remove “all obstacles from its path to progress”.
Recalling that those who lost their lives included law enforcement agencies’ officers and sepoys, jawaans (personnel) of the Levies and Frontier Constabulary, as well as civilians“, Shehbaz asserted that their sacrifices would not go to waste.
The prime minister expressed the resolve to eradicate terrorism under the leadership of Gen Munir and CM Bugti, reaffirming the federal government’s full support to that extent.
He vowed to root out “terrorism that has surged again since 2018” from not just Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but from the entire country.
In his concluding speech, the premier said the federal government had decided to depute all the police and civil officers of the 48th Common Group in Balochistan without discrimination to ensure peace, stability, and development of the province.
“After discussion with the interior minister, the army chief and other relevant high authorities, we have made a policy under which all the talented and efficient officers will be deployed in various districts and divisions of the province,” the prime minister said.
Announcing the policy, he said half of the officers of the 48th Common Group of both police and civil side would be posted to Balochistan immediately for one year.
The remaining half of the 48th Common Group would be posted after six months from their initial deployment who would also serve for one year.
Similarly, he said after one year, the first half of the officers from the 49th common group would be posted to Balochistan for one year. After one and a half years, the remaining half of the officers from the 49th group would be posted to Balochistan for one year.
The prime minister announced that the officers posted under the policy would be given four air tickets for travel of their families for every quarter. Additionally, these officers might also be given three extra points in their performance subject to their commitment and their service in the province.
He said the government would implement the policy immediately with the coordination of the Balochistan government.
As regards the possibility of dialogues with terrorists, the prime minister made it clear that the federal and provincial governments, along with all security forces, had an iron resolve to eliminate all anti-state elements who had nefarious designs to destabilise the country.
“It is our national, political, and religious duty to fight against such elements,” he said, adding that dialogues could only be possible with those who respected the Constitution and saluted the national flag.
“We must differentiate between these two elements to ensure the development and prosperity of the country.”
He highlighted that the Gwadar port was vital for the development and prosperity of the province and the country but some anti-state elements did not want the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the port to be operationalised.
According to state-run Radio Pakistan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, as well as other officials, were also accompanying PM Shehbaz.
Upon arrival at Quetta Airport, the premier was received by CM Bugti, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir, and newly-appointed provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari.
Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Abdul Rehman Khetran, and other senior government officials were also present to welcome him.
Naqvi has vowed his full support for the Balochistan government in combating terrorism when he visited the province on Tuesday.
While PM Shehbaz on Tuesday asserted that there was “no room for any weakness”, President Asif Ali Zardari had ordered effective measures to ensure the “complete elimination” of terrorism.
Sanaullah calls for Balochistan truth and reconciliation commission
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah called for a truth and reconciliation commission for Balochistan with inclusion from the province instead of other places.
Sanaullah said the provincial government did not need the federal government’s permission for such a commission.
He asked Baloch leaders to come forward and resolve the issues through dialogue.
“The leaders of Balochistan should bring the resolution in the provincial assembly so that all public interest matters could be addressed in a proper manner,” he said while talking on Geo News show ‘Capital Talk’.
He warned that those involved in the recent killings of innocent people in Balochistan would be given exemplary punishment according to law.
He invited Baloch leaders to sit together to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the province.
Replying to a question about security issues in the province, he said an apex committee was constituted to deal with security matters. He said that the government was committed to rooting out terrorism at all costs.
Sanaullah said the government should address and remove any misgivings or concerns of Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal and try to win him over.