Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Tuesday said that the decision to launch a military offensive against the farrari camps in Balochistan was in response to attacks on security forces and it would continue till an end to terrorists activities in the volatile province.
He was addressing a press conference here over the present law and order situation in Balochistan. The Interior Minister said that the decision to initiate the operation was taken when the President General Pervez Musharraf went to Kohlu to announce the development projects for the province and was attacked.
He said that certain elements did not want to see Balochistan to be developed socioeconomically and they were continuously resisting the development process in the province. A number of farrari camps set up by Akbar Bugti's grandsons and Khair Bakhash Marri's sons were destroyed by security personnel, he said and added that the operation against the remaining camps would continue.
The minister said that the people of Balochistan wanted to live in peace but handful of elements wanted to disrupt the harmony and development activities in the province.
He said Bugti and sons of Khair Bakhsh Marri have their own private militias and jails and their terrorists camps not only provided safe heavens but were also training basis for private militia, called as Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Beside, these camps also acted as dumps of arms and ammunition supplied by various stakeholders due to porous borders with Afghanistan.
The Minister said Balochistan has been in the grip of subversive activities since 2002 causing huge loss of life and property through rocket attacks, bomb explosions and mine blasts. Sherpao said the government resorted to settle the issue through negotiation with the help of PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General. But, he said Bugti did not accept any of the government options.
He said out of 31 recommendations of the Parliamentary Sub Committee on Balochistan headed by Mushahid Hussain Sayed, twenty-nine are being implemented to resolve the matters amicably and for the development of the province. He said despite government's reconciliatory efforts for the past many years Akbar Bugti and his associates remained busy organising their private militias using funds given to them by foreign sponsors coupled with privileges and economic favours through coercion of oil and gas companies.
The Minister said major incidents committed by the terrorists include killing of six Chinese working at Gwadar Port, unprovoked killing of military personnel at Khuzdar and FC personnel in district Dera Bugti, killing of innocent citizens by planting mines and explosive devices.
He said 228 civilians and 150 law enforcement agencies personnel were killed so far by the miscreants in the provinces since January 2004. During the period 1,032 people were injured in the sabotage activities.
Sherpao said the law-enforcement agencies led by FC, launched focussed action in Kohlu district to apprehend those involved in the terrorist acts. To a question about the killing of Akbar Bugti, he said it was not a target killing.
Sherpao said that to continue with economic development, roads and educational institutions' construction it is imperative for the government to curb those who are engaged in blocking the development process. No one would be allowed to hamper the development activities in the province, he added.
Comments
Comments are closed.