QUETTA, Aug 5: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf said on Thursday that no army operation was under way in the province and the government wanted to resolve all issues through negotiations.

"Our doors are open for negotiations," he told newsmen and added that no problem could be solved through violence. "We are ready for talks on the reservations and apprehensions of the nationalists in a peaceful atmosphere," Jam Yousuf said.

However, he said, nobody was above the law and those nominated in the FIR in connection with the Khuzdar incident could prove their innocence in the court. He said the case had been registered in accordance with the law.

"The government is not involved in the registration of the FIR," the chief minister said and added that everybody has the right to lodge a case while the courts decided those.

He said the Khuzdar attack was a terrorist act and the elements that wanted to destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the province were involved in it. "They are against development and they do not want the people to prosper," he said and added that such elements were targeting innocent people.

He said the law-enforcement agencies were investigating the incident of firing on his motorcade and people would be informed about the facts soon. Jam Yousuf denied reports about army operation in Balochistan and termed those propaganda of anti-development elements.

However, he said, the government had launched action against outlaws and terrorists to eliminate their hideouts from where they were carrying out their activities. "The government will not spare terrorists and outlaws involved in subversive activities," he said.

Talking to a delegation of tribal elders of Chagai district, the chief minister urged progressive and patriot forces to play their role to foil the conspiracies against Balochistan's development.

He said a peaceful atmosphere was important for pushing the development process forward. The delegation, led by former Balochistan Assembly member Haji Sakhi Dost Jan Notizai, apprised the chief minister of the problems being faced by the people in the district.

Provincial Minister Mir Amanullah Notizai was also present. Jam Yousuf said certain elements having a negative approach wanted to keep the province backward. He said all conspiracies against major projects and cantonments would be foiled with the help of the tribes and people of Balochistan.

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