Chief Minister Balochistan Aslam Raisani on Wednesday said that if US drones struck his province in pursuance of al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, his government will only "condemn" them. He however, ruled out possibility of such attacks.
Talking to newsmen after holding meeting with members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) at its head-office, he also dismissed the reports about the presence of al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.
Replying to a question, he declined to disclose the names of abductors of UN representative John Solecki, saying that they could not be made public for intelligence reasons, adding that in his province only subversive activities are going on and rejected that there is any insurgency with strong military struggle.
To another query, CM Balochistan said that his government will provide all possible protection to the investors , if US inadvertently resorted to striking in the countrys biggest province. About the presence of A-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban leaders in Balochistan, Raisani termed such reports as "misplaced information", saying that none of such elements exists there.
He however, made it clear that his government will not allow Balochistans rights to be usurped by any other province, saying that he has already informed the federal government about his peoples reservations in this connection.
Asking to newsmen, who raised a volley of questions to know of Balochistan governments clear-cut stance on US drone attacks if it took place, he snapped "you [newsmen] should be worried about these attacks as I live in Quetta which I will suffer. Why you people [newsmen] have got drone-phobia".
Earlier, addressing the members of FPCCI, Raisani said that there are more political reasons behind Balochistans unrest and underdevelopment, which are being resolved through political reconciliation by withdrawing cases against the members of unhappy factions.
He criticised that the Baloch nation is being seen as "jahils" [ignorant], saying that they are more enlightened, as academies are not the only intellectuals producers. He invited the business community to visit Gwadar, while dispelling the impression about the unrest and law and order deterioration there. He said that in the past there was a bit of turmoil and unrest however, situation has now become better with political reconciliation of the present government. He assured a complete support to the business community to invest in many fields in his province.
On the occasion, businessmen also extended their complete support to set up businesses and industrial units there despite energy crisis and said that Balochistan is a rich land of natural resources, which should be exploited for the development of Pakistan and Balochistans people. They said that the business community of Pakistan is not only resentful against the US drone attacks inside Pakistan but also see them as a clear violation of the countrys sovereignty. They also asked CM Balochistan about the reports that some Baloch tribes are impeding the exploration of natural resources.
They demanded of the Balochistan government to ask the federal government for revisiting the agreement of Gwadar port with port of Singapore authority, on which Raisani immediately replied that he himself has talked to Islamabad and wants only ratification in this regard. To an observation of a businessman, he said that there are several kinds of minerals in Chagi, but not gold.
President FPCCI Sultan Chawla also spoke on the occasion. The other FPCCI members who raised questions were Dr Ikhtiar Baig, S. M. Munir, Tariq Saeed, Majyd Aziz etc. Chief Secretary Balochistan Nasir Mehmood Khosa also highlighted various projects of electricity, road network development, agriculture and irrigation programmes, fisheries and livestock schemes, exploration of mines and minerals during his presentation.
CM Balochistan visited FPCCI along with his cabinet members including information minister Balochistan Yonus Mullazai, Engineer Zamarud Khan, revenue minister, Qamber Gichki, livestock minister, Saleem Khosa, Moulana Abdul Wasi, senior minister, Jaffer Mandokhel, Asim Kurd Gelo, finance minister and Sardar Shaukat Popalzai. Besides speaker Balochistan Assembly, M.Aslam Bhotani and Chief Secretary Balochistan Nasir Mehmood Khosa were also present at the meeting.
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