QUETTA: The coalition government is making efforts to bring to justice militants involved in recent attacks on security personnel in Pishin and Kila Saifullah, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa has said.

Winding up a debate in the provincial assembly on Tuesday on an adjournment motion moved by an opposition member, Nasrullah Zerey, regarding the martyrdom of Levies personnel and a bomb attack on the vehicle of the assistant commissioner of Barshor, Mr Khosa said that those involved in these crimes would be arrested soon.

Taking notice of the Indian threat, both opposition and treasury members warned the Indian army chief that Pakistan’s desire to resolve issues through dialogue was not its weakness but a peaceful move.

Appreciating the endeavour of the security forces in helping restore peace in the province, Mr Khosa said that a large number of people who had migrated to different places because of targeted killings and other subversive activities were now returning and business activities had started gaining momentum in Quetta.

The provincial cabinet had approved a plan for reorganising the security forces with an estimated amount of Rs8 billion, he said.

The Levies Force which covered around 90 per cent area of the province would be provided latest arms and ammunition and undergo training on modern lines, the home minister stated.

Moreover, anti-terrorism, bomb disposal and investigation wings of police as well as intelligence gathering and special security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would be upgraded.

Earlier, Nasrullah Zerey of the Pakhtun­khwa Milli Awami Party, speaking on the adjournment motion, condemned the recent terrorist attacks on Levies personnel and said the country had been facing terrorism for the last 40 years due to wrong policies of state institutions.

The previous government, he said, did not fully implement the National Action Plan but now no discrimination would be made between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists.

Asghar Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party said, “We are destroying our country to promote interests of others.” He added that Pakistan must not become involved in the war of others.

Abdul Khaliq Hazara of the Hazara Democratic Party said that terrorism could be curbed by implementing NAP’s 18 points. Hundreds of people of the Hazara community had been targeted in Quetta and other areas of the province, he said, adding that erecting of fences along the Afghanistan border would help in containing the influx of “cross-border terrorists”.

Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal called for diverting the money earmarked for reorganisation of Levies Force towards education and food security. He said that the situation would have been different had the governments given attention to education and food security.

Jamhoori Watan Party MPA Nawabzada Gohram Bugti said that the armed forces had rendered great sacrifices for the protection of the country. “The Indian army chief’s statement has exposed India’s vicious face to the world, we don’t want war with our neighbours but if it is imposed the entire nation would stand united,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018