11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

QUETTA, April 10: Qila Saifullah District Nazim Nawabzada Muhammad Hasan Khan Jogezai and tribal elders have rebutted a claim of the special branch police that a huge quantity of weapons was seized from Gazlona Badani of Kakar Khorasan on March 30 , saying that it was a conspiracy to defame the tribesmen.

Speaking at a joint news conference in the press club here on Saturday, they said Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani had been informed verbally and in written that police officials had staged a drama to mislead the Balochistan high-ups.

The Nazim stated that he had constituted three teams, comprising Nazims, tribal elders, and Levies staff to investigate the matter, but they submitted that there was no truth in the police claim.

Hasan Jogezai blamed police officials of the special branch for attempting to create a misunderstanding between peaceful tribesmen and the government in the area adjacent to the Afghan border.

The district Nazim regretted that the police officials had neither taken him into confidence to raid for the recovery of weapons nor the district administrative officer nor Levies staff were informed about this so-called action.

He demanded that the government should take stern action against the police officials responsible for staging a drama against the locals who he said were ready to cooperate with the government to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and to counter arms smuggling.