November 18, 2005	Friday	Shawwal 15, 1426

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QUETTA, Nov 17: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao announced here on Thursday that the Frontier Constabulary would be deployed at national installations and mega projects sites in Balochistan. The minister said the decision was taken at a high-level meeting on the overall law and order situation in the country and in the province.

Mr Sherpao told reporters after the meeting that the provincial government had wanted federal authorities to order deployment of the Frontier Constabulary in an effort to protect key installations and projects in the province.

“The protection of development projects is the responsibility of the government and the government will fulfil its obligations in this regard,” he said. “Steps will also be taken to ensure protection at highways. The patrolling of law enforcing agencies will be enhanced and nobody will be allowed to carry arms and ammunition in the restricted areas,” he added.

The minister said the Balochistan Constabulary would be established soon and 6,000 local people would be inducted in this new force which would help in maintaining law and order in the province.

Mr Sherpao dispelled an impression that Thursday’s meeting was held with the intention of vetting plans for a military operation in Balochistan. “It was only a routine meeting. We discussed various issues such as the situation at the borders and the law and order problem, and took some decisions in this regard,” he said.

“There are no plans to launch a military operation in Dera Bugti or any other area of Balochistan,” he said. “The government did not launch an operation even when Sui was attacked and many personnel of law enforcement agencies were killed.”

The minister said the government would continue the process of political dialogue for resolving all issues, as had been advocated at the meeting.

“Islamabad will provide force to Balochistan as much as the provincial government demands. All steps would be taken for improving law and order situation in Balochistan,” the minister said.

The meeting decided that nazims elected in the recent local body elections would play a role in resolving issues at the district level, according to the minister. The provincial government will take all steps to resolve issues politically and a committee of Balochistan Assembly had been constituted for the purpose.

In response to a question about the Karachi blast, Mr Sherpao said the investigating agencies were examining all options and considering all aspects to reach to the real culprits involved in Karachi bomb blast. “Police have made some arrests in this connection and during investigation some clue was also found that would help to track down the terrorists. He said the situation would soon be clear regarding the blast.

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