15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

QUETTA, Aug 14: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousuf on Saturday stated that the government would not permit lawlessness, subversive acts and terrorism as it was the prime responsibility of the government to ensure protection to life and property of the people.

The chief minister was speaking here at a flag-hoisting ceremony marking the Independence Day celebrations at the provincial assembly lawn.

He said the government wanted to resolve all issues through talks and in a spirit of reconciliation to ensure rapid progress and development activities in the province which in turn would ensure jobs to the jobless youths.

Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar, Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, provincial ministers, MNAs, MPAs Nazims, and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

He said the government was ready for a legislation to protect just rights of the people of the province. In this connection, he said, a law could be made for those making investment in the province to confine their activities to their investment only. Through this legislation they could be banned from disturbing the population balance of the province.

Paying rich tribute to martyrs of the Independence Movement Jam Yousuf said independence had not been given like a gift rather it had been achieved after millions of people of the sub-continent sacrificed their lives to achieve an independent State.

The provincial chief of the PML declared he was ready to sacrifice his children for the integrity and solidarity of the country but would, under no circumstances, allow the anti-people forces to weaken solidarity and unity of the people.

"We in good faith offer our opponents to sit down and resolve all issues, including mega uplift projects, through negotiations," he said adding "we would prove our offer was based on honesty but this should not be viewed as a weakness on the part of the government," the chief minister maintained.

Mr Yousuf said that some elements were making a false propaganda against Gwadar deep seaport project, Mirani dam and coastal highway etc to mislead the people.

Referring to the National Finance Commission, the chief minister said that Balochistan was facing financial problems due to non-finalization of a new NFC award and said that with the cooperation of the federal government the provincial government would overcome this issue.