KARACHI, Feb 6: Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said on Monday that the government was “effectively” dealing with trained insurgents, saboteurs and terrorists using most sophisticated weaponry in only three tehsils of Bugti and Marri tribal areas of the province with “foreign involvement”.
“Inshallah, we will not allow state within state and fully stabilize the situation in Balochistan. We have already seized a sizeable quantity of sophisticated weapons, including rocket launchers, multi-barrel guns, anti-tank mines, etc.
“The government is ready for peaceful political dialogue. All major issues at federal level will be resolved. However, there will be no dialogue with insurgents and terrorists unless they renounce such acts,” he said while talking to newsmen in Karachi.
The governor ruled out any army action in the province and said personnel of Frontier Constabulary on the request of the provincial government were effectively dealing with insurgents and terrorists and had eliminated a number of “Farrari camps.”
He spoke of Pakistan’s geo-political strategic position and said some forces do not want the country to be economically and politically strong. Balochistan has 1200-km-long border with Afghanistan, which was impossible to be fully sealed.
Owais Ghani said there was an urgent need to eliminate poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, as it has fallout on Pakistan. Drug warlords who were also involved in arms smuggling freely operate and the Afghan government could not apprehend them.
Over 75 per cent of heroin smuggled from Afghanistan to Europe goes through Afghanistan, he added.
Answering a question, the governor maintained that those involved in targeting communication links, including rail, gas and electricity installations were not struggling for rights of Baloch people.
“Some representatives of parliamentary committee from Balochistan without any cause boycotted its (committee) proceedings last year which created a deadlock. The government is sincere in dialogue and wants all members of the said committee to resume its meeting,” he stated.
He said the government was taking action against insurgents and terrorists and was also prepared for dialogue to resolve all issues, despite provocations. The government’s action was focussed only against ‘Farrari’ camps, terrorists, insurgents and not common man.
“We have also taken confidence-building measures.”
He said the question was why terrorists and insurgents get most sophisticated weapons from outside the country. Local people in Bugti and Marri tribal areas of the province have no resources to acquire such weapons. For personal protection, there was no need for modern weaponry, he added.
The governor said situation in Balochistan worsened after October 1999, as the government did not show appeasement as shown in the past.
“We have launched mega projects all over the province for the first time to improve standard of living of the people. This process is irreversible.”
He observed that there was tribal culture in Balochistan society which was now in transition due to challenge and resistance by youth.
“The struggle for rights should be done in constitutional and democratic manner.”
Owais Ghani said there would be no status quo now and all-round socio economic development would continue through the execution of mega projects.
He spoke of oil and gas surveys in the province and said recently gas was discovered in Jhal Magsi and Harnai areas. A lot of foreign investment was also being made in Balochistan. A Chinese company was developing gold and copper mines while an Australian company developing copper mines in the province, he added.
According to him, Bugti, Marri and Mengal Sardars’ members in parliament and Balochistan Assembly were now “negligible”. In recent Local Government elections, candidates of ruling PML and its allied parties won the elections in the province.
He invited newsmen to visit the province and see for themselves the overall situation.—PPI
