 |
KARACHI: Governor Balochistan, Awais Ahmad Ghani addressing a press conference at Balochistan House. |
|
|
|
|
| |
KARACHI, February 07 (Online): Governor Balochistan, Awais Ahmed Ghani on Monday said the government was going to take a “decisive” action against the miscreants operating in the violence-hit areas of the province, however, he added, there would be no army operation to flash them out.
“There is no need of any army operation in the troubled areas of the province as the Frontier Constabulary (FC) is fully trained and capable of handling the situation”, Mr. Ghani said adding that there will be no further dialogue with the“miscreants” and their patrons until they renounce violence and accept the writ of government
Addressing a press conference at Balochistan House here, the governor opined that Balochistan was in transition from a traditional tribal system to a progressive society , and that the Sardars (chieftains), who had been trying to save the “political trough” through violence, were fighting a lost war.
“These Sardars are now facing resistance from their own people, and the recent election results are a testimony to that. With growing literacy and business activities, a middle-class society is emerging even in those areas of Balochistan traditionally dominated by the tribal chiefs”, he said.
He said the parliamentarians belonging to the MMA, and Dr Abdul Hayi Baloch-led National Party represented the middle-class, which also showed the changing trend in the province. “ In the house ( Balochistan assembly) of 65, Nawab Bugti, Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Khair Bux Marri have only five representatives, whereas in past, their numbers were three five times higher”, he said.
Terming the last local bodies elections in Balochistan more transparent than other three provinces, the governor said the success of PML(Q)-backed candidates had endorsed the policies of the present government.
He said the government was still sincere and preferred dialogue to resolve the issue but, he added, the miscreants had to renounce violence, surrender all heavy weapons and accept the writ of the government for that.
“No government can bear or afford a state within state. They ( Baloch militants) are our brothers. They have been misled by some disgruntled elements. But when national installations are attacked, innocent people are killed and most importantly the writ of the government is being challenged, the government has no other option but to protect the public property and life”, he maintained.
The previous governments, he alleged, had adopted the policy of appeasing the chieftains , no matter justly or unjustly, but, he added, the present government had initiated a people-centered policy, which did not suit the tribal chiefs.
He alleged that mainly, Nawab Akbar Bugti, and Sardar Khair Bux Marri were behind the trouble in “ some parts “ of Balochistan.
“They are patronizing the terrorists and training camps in some parts of Dera Bugti and Kohlu respectively. They have been running their own militias and maintaining private jails since long. They are hoodwinking the poor people in the name of Baluch national cause”, the governor said and added “. Hundreds of rockets are being fired daily in Dera Bugti and Kohlu. One can understand, if these miscreants use rifles and light weaponry against FC troops, but how can militants belonging to a poor nation afford multi-barrel rockets, mortar artillery, and anti-tank mines, which are used in full-fledged wars”.
Asked if the government had proofs against Nawab Bugti and other chieftains then why were they not being arrested, he avoided replying directly and said “ Nawab Sahib (Bugti) at the moment is at large”.
. He observed that the militants were not struggling for Baluch rights but they for foreign inspired interests in this region, and to save the Sardari system.
“They (militants) are getting huge amounts from abroad. and now no one should doubt this because they cannot buy or afford such sophisticated and costly weaponry, he added.
He said the militants were getting weapons from Afghanistan through different routes by taking advantage of a long border. “ There is over 1200 kilometers long border between Balochistan and Afghanistan. It is almost impossible for the law enforcing agencies to guard the entire border, he added.
Unfortunately, the governor said, the central government in Afghanistan was weak as it had no control in the suburbs of Afghanistan, where war and drug lords were operating freely. “ We have asked the Afghan government for various times to control the smuggling of drugs and weapons into Balochistan, but unfortunately, nothing positive has so far occurred”, he regretted. About involvement of foreign element in violence in Balochistan, Mr. Ghani said that various powers had their interests in Central Asia, and that they did not want stability in Balochistan, which was the main transportation route between those states and the outside world.
“I don’t want to name these powers. It is foreign office’s job, or the president or the prime minister can name them”, he said and added “ These Baloch Sardars are carrying the agenda of these powers in this region just because they (Sardars) want to save their Sardari system”,.
Denying the impression regarding crisis in entire Balochistan, he said the problem existed only in two out of 28 districts in the province. The Pushtun belt is completely peaceful, and even in Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts, only three sub-divisions are disturbed, the governor said.
Before the ongoing action against the militants, he said, there had been some 37 training camps in different parts of Balochistan, mostly in Dera Bugti and Kohlu. Most of them have been destroyed, he added.
About alleged killing of civilians during the ongoing military action in Dera Bugti, and Kohlu, Mr. Ghani said that not even a single civilian had been killed during the action, which was focused on training camps. Instead, he claimed, various civilians had been killed by the rockets propelled by the militants.
He said the government was embarking upon a massive development programme worth Rs 150 billion in Balochistan with emphasis on education, health and communication sectors.
Rejecting the report of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Balochistan issue, he said the report was totally one-sided and devoid of truth. The report, he opined, had destroyed the credibility of the HRCP.
End. | 
Health
