QUETTA, June 17: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf has blamed some political elements for hatching conspiracy against democracy and development projects in the province.

He informed the provincial PML-Q office-bearers here on Tuesday about the his government’s efforts to maintain understanding with the federal government to overcome the difficulties faced by the people in province.

The Balochistan government had approached the federal government for the provision of huge funds to accelerate uplift activities in the province, which was neglected in the past, Mr Jam Yousaf said.

He asserted that for the provision of basic facilities to the people, the provincial government would have to establish good working relations with the federal government.

Balochistan, he said, had received positive signals from the Centre and the mega projects launched in the province would help uplift the masses bringing Balochistan at par with the developed areas of the province.

The chief minister accused some defeated politicians of misleading the people about the mega uplift projects and assured the party members that the coalition government led by the PML-Q would compete with negative forces politically. The provincial government enjoying the backing of people would foil every move against democracy, he vowed.

Earlier, speaking to a group of newsmen at a function, the chief minister claimed that to a greater extent, the federal government had accepted the provincial government’s demands to present a balanced budget for fiscal 2003-04.

Jam Yousuf rejected the apprehension of some political groups that the construction of Gwadar Deep Seaport would turn local population into minority and the government would sacrifice the rights of native people.

About the arrest of Sariab Road incident, Jam Yousuf said the government and law enforcement agencies were making all-out efforts to apprehend the criminals.

Asked whether the incident was terrorism or sectarianism, the chief minister said the incident was pre-planned and designs would be known when the people responsible for the incident were arrested.