QUETTA, Jan 19: Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf has said it is possible to hold talks with Nawab Akbar Bugti but not with the chief of Marris who is not prepared to accept the government’s writ in Kohlu. Speaking to coalmine owners and workers and later talking to media personnel in the Marwar area, some 60 km east of Quetta on Thursday, he announced that there could be no compromise with anti-state elements.

Provincial ministers Maulvi Faiz Muhammad and Mir Asim Kurd, Quetta City Nazim Mir Maqbool Lehri and All Pakistan Mines Association’s chairman Ghulam Sabir also spoke on the occasion.

The chief minister claimed that after 10 days of operation security forces had succeeded in clearing the area of saboteurs who had made the lives of owners and workers of coalmines miserable.

He said that armed outlaws had not only fired rockets on checkposts and people but had also taken them hostage. Besides, the fugitives forcibly collected tax from mine owners.

He said that coalmine played a vital role in the development of Balochistan and the government would build roads to provide electricity to promote the industry.

He said the government had been trying to resolve the issues peacefully but terrorists would not be allowed to challenge the writ of the government and lives and property of the people would be protected. Jam Yousuf said the government was willing to negotiate with all people, including the nationalists.