Director General, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Shaukat Sultan has said that some local chieftains want to pocket all the money earned through natural resources of Balochistan.
Government wants to pass the benefit of natural resources to the people of Balochistan. Vested interests think that natural resources were their personal right instead of the people. This exploitation will end one day.
The involvement of some locals in the recent terrorist activities could not be ruled out, he told PTV.
Only a handful outlaws, criminals, under the aegis of chieftains want to vitiate the calm atmosphere of Balochistan.
The rocket attacks, explosions could be reaction of halting of anti-social activities of these elements. Some vested interests do not like to loosen their grip on Baloch people.
Balochistan has been put on the path to progress and prosperity, which has endangered their exploitation.
The mentors of criminals want to preserve their vested interests by keeping people of Balochistan uneducated and their province undeveloped, whereas the government wants to pass the benefits of development to the people rather than to only few privileged. They want to terrorise people and frighten them for continuance of status quo.
Feudalism was slowly vanishing. Schools were being opened in far-flung areas of Balochistan to spread light in people's life. The exploitation of people will end one day.
People have been empowered through local government system. Unprecedented development projects have been initiated. Work on Mirani and Hangol dams was continuing. Network of roads will be linked with the Central Asian States. After completion of Gwadar port, Balochistan will become economic hub of the area.
The government was doing a lot for emancipation of the people. Pakistan will not be deterred by these elements. Pakistan will continue to play role in the war on terror. Pakistan will not allow its land to be used by unscrupulous elements, he added.
To a question he said, Pakistan would have to pay some price for waging the war on terror. Attacks on different government functionaries were tactical threats against the government to weaken its resolve.
The small tactical setbacks if ignored, could yield strategic gains after emerging winner in the war on terror. Besides, the perception about Pakistan will also improve further.
To another question he said extremism was a threat for country. The whole Ummah could be emancipated by progress of Pakistan.