QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has taken notice of acid attacks on women and girls and said some elements want to create harassment in the province.
The chief minister was presiding over a meeting called to review the overall law and order situation in the province.
Two women wounded in Mastung acid attack
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Minister for Services and General Administration Nawab Mohammad Khan Shahwani, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chathha, Home Secretary retired Captain Akbar Hussain Durrani, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Naseem Lehri, IG Police, Commissioner Quetta, CCPO Quetta, DIG Frontier Corps, Deputy Commissioner Mastung and DPO Mastung.
The home secretary, CCPO Quetta and DPO Mastung gave briefing on the incidents of acid attacks on women and girls in Quetta and Mastung. .
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that elements involved in such brutal and anti-human acts wanted to create panic and harassment in Balochistan. “Islamic teachings and tribal traditions do not allow such brutal acts.”
He said people involved in these heinous crimes must be arrested within a week and warned that departmental action would be taken against officials if they showed negligence.
The chief minister expressed displeasure over delay in the installation of CCTV cameras in Quetta. He stressed the need for using information technology to improve law and order in the city, saying CCTV cameras would help officials monitor incident of violence in the city.
Meanwhile, the home minister said some elements wanted to destroy peace in the name of religion.
He said the incidents of throwing acid on women are condemnable and the government would take stern action against people involved in these crimes. He said violence against women was against the teachings of Islam.
In a statement, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party condemned incidents of acid attacks and termed them brutal acts. The party said terrorists wanted to spread a sense of insecurity in Balochistan.
Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2014
