QUETTA, June 8: Relief activities were not resumed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other foreign non-government organizations in Balochistan on Tuesday.
Offices of the UNHCR Quetta and international NGOs in the provincial capital remained closed. "We are waiting for instructions from Islamabad regarding resumption of relief operation in Balochistan," an official of a foreign NGO said.
Sources said the decision regarding resumption of relief activities would be taken in Islamabad. They said most of the foreign staff of the UNHCR and foreign NGOs were staying in a hotel due to security reasons.
The UN security officials in Islamabad had directed them to leave their residences and offices after receiving threats of suicide attacks. The acting chief of the UNHCR sub-office here, Yousuf Adam, left for Islamabad on the instruction of his head office. Some other foreigners working with international NGOs have also reached Islamabad.
Sources said foreign staff of Mercy Corps shifted to their residences after being provided security by the provincial government. The Balochistan government once again asked the international relief organizations to resume their work without any fear and assured them they would be provided security.
The offices and residences of foreign NGOs and UNHCR staff were guarded by law-enforcement agencies and no unauthorized person or vehicle was allowed to enter those. "We are providing all possible security to foreigners in Quetta," a police officer said.
A Pakistani NGO working with the UNHCR expressed concern about security of its workers in refugee camps and other places. "Police must protect our staff and field workers, who are working in the camps," an official of the NGO demanded.
SECURITY MEASURES: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf on Tuesday directed the authorities responsible to adopt effective security measures for the protection of officials of all aid agencies, development projects and national installations in the province.
Presiding over a meeting, directed police and other law-enforcement agencies to take strict action against terrorist and anti-social elements in Quetta, Gwadar and other areas of Balochistan and keep a vigilant eye on such activities.
"We will continue the development process in the province at any cost," he said and added that all attempts to create hurdles in its way would be foiled. The meeting reviewed the security situation in Balochistan, specially in view of threats of suicide attacks to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international relief organizations working in the province.
The authorities concerned informed the meeting about progress regarding arrest of those involved in rocket attacks in Gwadar and Mand and other incidents of subversion.
Provincial Home Minister Mir Shoaib Nausherwani, Chief Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Nasar, Inspector General of Police Chaudhry Yaqoob, Home Secretary Abdul Rauf Khan, Levies Director-General Commodore Shaukat Chengizai and other officials attended the meeting.
ENTRY RESTRICTED: The services and general administration department has cancelled all stickers issued for entrance of vehicles into the civil secretariat, our correspondent adds.
The stickers were valid till June 30. An official statement issued on Monday stated that no government official except those having been granted special permission by the S&GAD could enter the secretariat after 3pm.
All staff members of the secretariat have been directed to show their national identity cards on the demand of security officials. Only ministers and provincial secretaries will be allowed to enter the secretariat from the gate of block-8.
The statement said fresh vehicle stickers would be issued after June 30 only to the officials performing duty in the secretariat. The chief secretary, talking to Dawn, on Tuesday rejected the impression that the steps were taken due to any threat to blow up the secretariat.