Disarming of militias needed for peace: President denies army action
RAWALPINDI, Feb 3: No military operation is under way in Balochistan, but private local militias must disarm and stop obstructing development projects aimed at socio-economic uplift of the people of the province, says President Pervez Musharraf.
Talking to media personnel at his camp office here on Friday, he said: “There is no military operation in the province (Balochistan) and there is no collateral damage there.”
President Musharraf outlined a four-point solution, beginning with the surrender and disarming of local militia to end the unrest in the province.
“We will not let them flourish and challenge the writ of the government ... the government’s writ will be established in Balochistan,” he said.
He said the government would move for a political solution only if the local sardars gave up arms and stopped hampering oil and gas exploration activities and development projects in the province.
The president said the government would not give any money to these sardars in future and they should behave like good citizens.
“I do not believe in politics at the cost of the nation ... the nation(’s interest) comes first,” he added.
He said the government had “squeezed” the sources of the militia’s money and weapons and was effectively moving against what he termed miscreants.
The president referred to the return of thousands of Kalpar and Masuri tribesmen, who had to abandon their ancestral homes after being persecuted by some sardars.
He said that the Frontier Constabulary, and not the army, was engaged in the province, adding that coal-mines, which had been forcibly occupied, had been vacated and returned to their rightful owners.
The president said the government had so far converted 14 of 28 districts into ‘A’ areas and was rationalising the force structure of the civil and military forces.
He said that Rs140 billion had been allocated for a string of development projects in Balochistan, adding that the government remained committed to providing better health, education and communication facilities.
He said a military cantonment was being built in Sui to ensure the protection of sensitive installations.—APP
