QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has said that Gwadar is a strong part of Balochistan and will always remain so.

“Legislation is being made to address the apprehensions of local people of Gwadar of being converted into a minority after development,” he said at a lunch hosted by the Balochistan Newspaper Editors Council here on Wednesday.

Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattah and Senator Agha Shahbaz Durrani were also present.

Nawab Zehri said the goals of development could not be achieved without improving law and order.

“The government is not only cognisant of its responsibility but also taking effective steps against terrorists involved in murdering civilians and personnel of law enforcement agencies.”

The chief minister said that nowhere in the world was anyone allowed to impose his agenda at gunpoint and his government would not let anyone to do so in the province. “Everybody has a constitutional right to live an independent life,” he said, adding that being a Nawab, it was his responsibility to protect the people.

“Our forefathers protected the minorities and oppressed people for centuries with swords and rendered sacrifices, while members of my own family have laid down their lives for the people of Balochistan.”

The chief minister said that law and order situation in the province had improved, and the media should also play its role for by spreading awareness and guiding the government.

He said the government was also focusing on development, especially on improvement of Quetta by providing basic amenities to the people.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2016