“War will continue in Balochistan until the presence of the last terrorist is eliminated. The civil and military leadership is united and unanimous in the fight against terrorism, and there is no ambiguity or confusion on this matter,” Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said.
He expressed these views on Saturday while speaking via video link with anchors, senior journalists and other representatives of the national media at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
On the occasion, detailed discussions were held on various matters related to the overall situation in the province, development process, minerals and mining, law and order, political affairs and government measures.
Earlier, important briefings on the province’s socio-economic sectors, minerals and mining, and law and order were also held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, during which the provincial government’s strategy, ongoing projects and benefits being provided to the people were reviewed. The Planning and Development Department briefed the meeting on the provincial government’s strategy regarding the socio-economic sectors, governance, service delivery, effective use of development funds and measures to ensure that the benefits of development projects reach the people.
The Minerals and Resources Department gave a detailed briefing on the potential of the minerals and mining sector in Balochistan, ongoing projects and measures being taken for the development of the sector. The briefing stated that steps are underway to better utilize mineral resources and generate economic and other benefits for the people of the province.
The Home and Tribal Affairs Department briefed the Chief Minister on the law and order situation, the Provincial Action Plan, police reforms and progress on the merger of the Levies Force into the police. The Chief Minister was also briefed on the Safe City project, legislation and effective coordination among law enforcement agencies.
Following the ministerial briefings, a detailed question-and-answer session was held with the Balochistan Chief Minister, during which representatives of the national media asked questions about the overall situation in the province, law and order, development, political matters and other important issues.
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti responded to the questions and explained the provincial government’s position and policy priorities.
The Chief Minister said that security forces in Balochistan are performing their duties under difficult circumstances.
He said state institutions are working in complete coordination in the fight against terrorism. “There will be no talks with those who take up arms against the state under any circumstances.”
He said it is not possible to control the entire province from Quetta. If new provinces are created in Balochistan, they should be formed on administrative rather than linguistic grounds.
The Chief Minister said he had no knowledge of any two-and-a-half-year government agreement in Balochistan. The decision regarding a change in government should be made by the political leadership; however, as long as he remains in office, he will continue serving the people.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said he could not claim that corruption had been completely eliminated, but corruption in Balochistan had certainly decreased compared to the past. Steps are being taken to ensure the implementation of merit in all government departments, including educational institutions.
He said development projects in Balochistan had been completed in record time compared to the past, and the provincial government’s focus is on making the development process effective, result-oriented and aligned with public needs.
Referring to the return of foreign nationals, the Chief Minister said that 1.1 million Afghan refugees, along with other foreign nationals, had been sent back to their countries from Balochistan.
Regarding the issue of missing persons, the Chief Minister said that the matter has sometimes also been presented on national media and other forums without the correct context, which does not provide an accurate picture of the situation.
He made it clear that terrorism is not an issue of any single province but of the entire country, and joint efforts at the national level are required for its elimination.
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