QUETTA, Aug 9: Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Muhammad Yousuf has said that he has been kept in the loop with regards to the appointment of the new governor of Balochistan.

Talking to a group of newsmen at his office here on Saturday he was reluctant to disclose the name of the would-be governor.

The chief minister said that under the Constitution it was the president’s prerogative to appoint the governor, adding that he was taken into confidence regarding nomination of the new governor.

Mr Yousuf said that every citizen could wish for choosing a person of his or her own liking; however, under the Constitution it was the president’s prerogative.

Replying to another question on the federal government’s intention to launch a military operation in the province, the chief minister said the federal government was only interested in launching development projects.

Mr Yousuf said that the government would tackle saboteurs, dacoits, and anti-social forces with all its might to protect life and property of the citizens.

About the chelum procession of July 4 martyrs the chief minister said that the government had taken all precautionary measures to maintain law and order and no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.

He said that police had arrested the main accused involved in terrorist attacks of June 8 and July 4 in Quetta. However, he added, two leading terrorist Saifullah Kurd and Daud Badani were still at large.

Replying to another question on new award of the National Finance Commission (NFC), he said that Balochistan ministers would be attending the meeting in Islamabad in the next couple of days.