15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

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QUETTA, Jan 14: The Balochistan government on Friday formally sought the federal government's help to ensure security of natural gas installations in the Sui area.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the provincial cabinet held here with Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf in the chair.

Later, briefing newsmen about cabinet decisions at a press conference at the Chief Minister's House, Home Minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani said the decision had been taken in view of the situation in the Sui area which witnessed heavy clashes between security forces and armed men for five days.

The gunbattles, in which heavy weapons were used, also disrupted the supply of gas to several parts of the country after a gas purification plant was hit by rockets. The minister said that a decision about deployment of regular army would be taken by the federal government keeping in view the situation on the ground.

"We have simply asked the federal government to take charge of the security. The plant is a federal installation and there should be no hard feelings if it is looked after by the central government," he said.

He said one of the reasons for seeking help from the Centre was to ensure safety of these installations which were of vital national and economic importance and the other was to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to consumers. "The disruption of regular supply could cause a huge economic loss to the economy."

The home minister said that security forces would make sure that the plant and the people living in the surrounding areas remained safe. "Troops would be restricted only to Sui," he added.

Mr Nausherwani said the provincial government had asked the federal government to desist from launching any military operation. However, he said, the provincial government should be taken into confidence before initiation of any operation in the Sui area.

The minister said that it was not correct that the call for help meant failure of the Balochistan government in maintaining security at the plant. "This decision has been taken in the larger national interest," he added.

Replying to a question, Mr Nausherwani said that no military operation had been launched in Sui. The FC troops deployed had only searched the areas from where rockets and mortars were fired during the five-day attacks.

"Regular army is not present in Sui," the home minister told a questioner. He said that no military operation would be conducted in the area. However, action against those involved in rocket attacks could not be ruled out, he added.

The minister said that Nawab Akbar Bugti had himself once said that the Baloch Liberation Army was involved in such attacks. The provincial government would request Nawab Bugti to help in arresting the attackers, he added.

About the rape of a lady doctor in Sui, Mr Nausherwani said the provincial government wanted to arrest all suspects. However, he suggested that the accused involved in the case should come forward voluntarily to clarify their position so that doubts in this regard were cleared.

He said the lady doctor could not give any concrete proof or evidence against her alleged rapists. In such circumstances it was difficult to nab anyone, he added.

Giving details about other issues discussed by the cabinet, the minister said the cabinet called for giving practical shape to the suggestions and recommendations formulated by the parliamentary committee on Balochistan headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain.

"The Balochistan government wants early implementation of decisions regarding natural gas royalty, gas development surcharge and economic crisis." The home minister said the cabinet decided to set up a committee to meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to brief them about these recommendations. The committee would be headed by the chief minister and consist of provincial minister Syed Ehsan Shah and Hafiz Hamdullah.