QUETTA: Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has said that parliamentarians from Balochistan will visit friendly countries to inform them and the international community about the interference of neighbouring states in the province.

Talking to a delegation of news anchors of private television channels from across the country who called on him on Sunday, he said an open letter would also be sent to the United Nations secretary general in this regard.

The chief minister said some so-called freedom fighters had been using youths of Balochistan as fuel in their fight.

He said the government was sincere in conducting a census but it had been postponed because the security forces were busy in restoring and maintaining law and order. “A transparent and non-controversial census will be conducted in collaboration with the Pakistan Army,” he said.

Zehri says letter will be sent to UN secretary general

Mr Zehri said several youths had joined the mainstream after leaving the mountains but some elements were still talking about freedom in order to mint money.

“No one will be allowed to enforce his philosophy at gunpoint,” he said.

He said the security situation in Balochistan had improved to a satisfactory level.

He said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statements had made clear who was behind the unrest in Balochistan. “All people of Balochistan strongly reacted to Narendra Modi’s statements. We are not afraid of India,” he said, adding that nefarious designs of the enemies would be foiled at any cost.

The chief minister said there was no truth in propaganda of some elements that mutilated bodies were being dumped. “A significant improvement has been witnessed in the law and order situation and we strongly reject false and baseless propaganda of negative elements,” he said.

He said that according to police documents, 40 to 50 people of the province were reported to be missing and most of them were living in Afghanistan and Dubai.

Mr Zehri said that his government had taken practical steps against corruption.

He said completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and making the Gwadar port completely functional would boost local and national economy besides bringing an economic revolution in the region. “The first right on benefits from the port is of the people of Gwadar, second of the rest of Balochistan and third of the whole country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2016