ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has aid that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code will remain enforced in Balochistan till the conclusion of the ongoing operation against miscreants involved in destroying national assets.

“We have imposed Section 144 in Balochistan to ensure the safety of life and property of people and it will continue to be enforced till restoration of normalcy in the province,” he told reporters on Wednesday after a two-day inter-ministerial preparatory conference for the United Nations dialogue on international migration and development.

The minister said the Balochistan operation was not targeting any individual and it was only against those involved in sabotage and terrorism.

Responding to a question, he said law-enforcement agencies were not aware of Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Bugti’s presence in the area where he died.

He said a guide of Bugti tribe had led a party of military officials to the cave where Nawab Bugti had taken refuge.

“When army officials were at the entrance of the cave a mysterious blast took place inside it, after which it collapsed,” he said.

As the military officials were at the opening of the cave, there bodies had been recovered while excavation was under way to recover the bodies of Nawab Bugti and his companions believed to have been killed inside it, he said.

Mr Sherpao said that as heavy earthmoving machines could not be taken to the cave the rubble was being removed manually.

“As the body of Mr Bugti is recovered we will hand it over to his family,” the minister said.

He said the government wanted to resolve all the issues in Balochistan through dialogue. “It is the result of negotiation that some 1,500 people of Marri tribe surrendered yesterday,” he maintained.

The minister said the law and order situation had improved in the whole country and the death of Nawab Bugti had not put any adverse impact on national economy. “It did not affect the stock exchange,” he said.