28 January 2005	Friday	17 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Zobaida Jalal on Thursday ruled out the possibility of a military operation in Sui area.

She was speaking at a press conference held to inform the media about the government's efforts to negotiate a settlement with local Baloch leaders to normalize situation in Sui.

Ms Jalal, MNA from NA 272 Kech-cum-Gwadar, talked about the federal government's initiatives to take Baloch leaders on board for future development of Balochistan, so far considered the most deprived province of the country.

"The government absolutely has no intention to launch a military operation in Balochistan and the issue will be resolved through political negotiations," the social welfare minister said.

The Frontier Constabulary (FC) is chasing miscreants who are intermittently firing rockets in the Sui area, and some local leaders are terming it a military operation, she said.

In this regard, Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has already started meetings with Baloch leaders and things are looking up. "On Thursday (today), Chaudhry Shujaat visited my residence and informed me about the progress made so far on the political front to address the concerns of Baloch people," she said.

Moreover, there are two parliamentary committees - one addressing the issue of provincial autonomy and the second taking care of present crisis with representation of treasury and opposition benches.

In the past, Balochistan had been neglected by the successive federal governments, resulting in resentment among local people, and finally the country is facing the present crisis, the minister said while responding to a question.

However, the government has already launched massive development projects worth Rs130 billion, and there are more in the pipeline, Ms Jalal said. "Now local people are getting jobs, roads' network has improved tremendously and they are genuinely being empowered, be it political empowerment or provision of basic necessities," the minister claimed.

However, she stressed that the government would not yield to the personal demands of few leaders, and instead try to address real issues of the province. Since, protection of Sui area is of critical importance to the country, hence no one - no matter what the cost - will be allowed to destroy national installations, she said while answering a question.

About setting up of cantonments in the province, the minister supported the government's stance, saying establishment of cantonments had brought progress to the respective areas, therefore there was nothing wrong in having cantonments in Balochistan.

Responding to a question regarding the alleged rape of a lady doctor, Ms Jalal said investigations were on and culprits would be dealt with according to law of the land no matter which department they belonged.

"Yes, there have been some incidents of harassment of local people by FC personnel and the government has taken strong notice and grilled the FC inspector general during parliamentary committee's meeting in this context," the minister said.

She also dispelled the impression that with the development of Balochistan, Baloch people would become a minority. "District Gwadar has only 200,000 people, and with the magnitude of development going on in the area, people from other provinces will migrate to the district, which does not mean that local community will become a minority."