QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that alongside other parts of the region Balochistan is facing sectarian terrorism, extremism and insurgency but his government is taking all possible steps to solve these problems.

Speaking at the passing out parade of the fourth batch of 200 police personnel here on Monday, the chief minister said that with the capacity building of police and other provincial forces, the government had succeeded to improve law and order in the province.

Also read: Govt taking all measures to eliminate terrorism, says CM Malik

“The law and order has improved to a great extent, but more efforts are needed to establish complete peace in the province,” he said.

About 1,000 personnel of police, Anti-Terrorist Force, Balochistan Constabulary and Levies received special training from Pakistan Army.

Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Naseer Janjua, Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Secre­tary Saif­ul­lah Chattah, Moh­a­mmad Saleh Bhoo­tani, Com­missioner of Quetta Division Kam­bar Dashti and Additional Ins­pe­ctor Gene­ral of Police Ahsan Mehboob and other provincial ministers and senior officers attended the function.

Dr Malik said that with the special training provincial forces were now in a position to fight terrorism. Police and Balochistan Constabulary had a frontline role in protecting the life and property of people.

“We have tried to remove politics from police and Levies force,” he said, adding that all postings and transfers were being made on merit.

Meanwhile, the chief minister inaugurated an educational festival organised by a local NGO.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that hunger, poverty, terrorism and backwardness could only be defeated through education.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2014