0
• Spokesman says ‘our doors’ always open for dialogue in the interest of province
• Ministers slam wave of deadly attacks, call it an ‘organised conspiracy’
QUETTA: As Balochistan grapples with a relentless wave of deadly attacks on security forces and civilians, the provincial government on Friday indicated its readiness to work with the opposition to confront the spiraling violence and address the province’s mounting security challenges.
“Our doors are always open for dialogue in the interest of Balochistan, as the government is committed to resolving the issue through meaningful talks,” spokesman for the Balochistan government Shahid Rind said while speaking at a press conference alongside provincial ministers.
He said the chief minister is committed to resolving issues through dialogue and has extended an offer to the opposition to work together in addressing the province’s challenges. “The provincial government is in contact with opposition parties and their leaders in this regard,” he added.
“The chief minister has made the offer for dialogue several times on the assembly floor, that even if a member of the opposition has initiative for dialogue, he is willing to give that after which the negotiations will begin,” he said, according to Dawn.com.
The spokesman noted that three sessions were held in the Balochistan Assembly to address terrorism in the previous year — one of them being in-camera — and “everyone was taken on board for the first time”.
He further said: “Elected representatives and even those who are not elected have always been invited for dialogue. Even in the National Security Committee meeting and prior to that, [Prime Minister] Shehbaz Sharif extended the offer for dialogue to all political leadership. The chief minister extended the invitation to everyone in the provincial assembly.”
The spokesman said the Balochistan government’s stance on terrorism is firm and unequivocal, vowing strict action against those perpetrating killings under the pretext of ethnicity and identity.
The provincial ministers strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in various parts of the province, describing them as part of an organised conspiracy by anti-state elements with the backing of Pakistan’s enemies.
These terrorist acts would be dealt with full force and that all such conspiracies would be thwarted, they asserted.
Minister for Development and Planning Zahoor Buledi said that in the Jaffar Express attack, innocent passengers were held hostage and subjected to violence and brutality.
He also condemned the tragic incident in Gwadar, where innocent citizens were taken off a passenger bus and martyred.
Furthermore, he said that in a recent blast, renowned doctor Mehrullah Tareen, a dedicated professional committed to public service, was targeted.
Mr Buledi added that the recent acts of terrorism in Balochistan could not be condemned enough and that the government is addressing the matter with full seriousness.
He stated that the enemies of Balochistan’s development cannot tolerate progress, but these elements will not be pardoned under any circumstances.
Provincial Finance Minister Shoaib Nosherwani said Balochistan is currently facing a new wave of terrorism, but the government is determined to eliminate it in collaboration with the citizens.
He acknowledged that certain areas in Balochistan suffer from deprivation and poor governance, but assured that the government is taking practical steps to address these challenges.
He reaffirmed that all necessary measures are being taken to improve governance and law and order.
Mr Nosherwani admitted that concerns about Balochistan are frequently brought up at various forums, particularly about bad governance and corruption, which fuel terrorism.
“We understand that this is a big issue but it is not something new; this has been ongoing for decades,” he said, adding that the government is determined to improve the situation, move towards “good” governance, and put an end to corruption.
He said that in the previous budget, the government has made efforts to directly provide relief to the people of Balochistan, but as soon as the respite begins, terrorist attacks rise again.
“No government want to solve issues through violence or war or operations; any government would want to resolve things without any harm.”
Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2025
