QUETTA: Opposition to progress will be damaging, warns Jam
By Our Correspondent
QUETTA, April 8: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf said here on Tuesday that people were conscious that opposing the development process or confrontation with the government would damage their interest.
Speaking to participants of a war course of the National Defence College, he said the opponents of development took credit for uplift schemes when in power but once out of government they resisted the developmental process. The government would not be blackmailed by them, he added.
He said the people were aware of their designs and would not be deceived by them in the name of tribalism or nationality. The chief minister urged the anti-development elements to accept the ground realities and participate in the uplift process to overcome backwardness.
He said no one denied the fact that only natives had the right over the resources to be explored for the betterment of the common man in the province to bring positive change in society.
Jam Yousuf further said the government was making concerted efforts for provision of basic facilities to the people in the far-flung areas of the province, and maintained that steps taken during the last four years had improved the situation in the development sector.
He said due to special attention of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali prosperity was knocking at the door of Balochistan.
Referring to the law and order situation, he said crime ratio had decreased. He assured that effective measures had been taken to combat the incidents of dacoity at highways, abduction for ransom and theft cases.
Regarding the recent terrorist attacks, he claimed the government had found the clues of the terrorists network and it would be eliminated. He conceded that due to passive attitude of the Nazims on law and order issue the provincial government was facing problems, but said reorganization of levies, provision of modern equipments to the police and levies and establishment of constabulary would protect lives of the people.
Responding to a question, Jam Yousuf claimed no sectarianism existed in the province as people had expressed brotherhood and unity during recent terrorist incidents. Lauding the contribution of the army for the good of the country, he said youths from the province were given commission on large scale and that was a positive sign.
Rejecting the impression that people were opposing the establishment of the new cantonments in Balochistan, he said the natives were backing the establishment of new cantonments.
Balochistan Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah and some provincial officials also briefed the delegations about various development schemes, including the Gwadar deep-sea port project.
