Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday smelt a big conspiracy aimed at secession of Balochistan, urging all segments of the society to help government defeat the move. He stated this during question hour in Senate, while responding to queries of the Senators, adding that the bullets which hit wife and daughter of Balcoh MPA Mir Bakhtair Domki were not made in Pakistan and the authorities were trying to find out their (bullets) origin.
The senators, who were furious over the repeated human rights violations in Balochistan, particularly blasted the FC role to what they alleged for igniting the situation and creating hatred among the people of the province. Malik, however, ruled out the allegations, saying neither army nor the FC is creating hatred among the people of Balochistan, but added that there is a significant foreign interference.
"I would like to say it openly that there is a significant foreign interference, as many countries want the province should not remain part of Pakistan," he said without naming any country. Rather, he sought help from all segments of the society, including intellectuals, politicians and media persons, saying it is high time a positive message should be sent to Bacloh people.
The Minister said that there are some elements targeting the army and FC personnel in the province, adding that those living in Turbat or elsewhere in the province having sophisticated weapons, satellite phones and rockets to target the installations there. Referring to the US congressional committee debate on Balochistan, Malik said if someone lives in New York, manages to get passed a resolution on Balochistan; he can't do so alone; there are some outside forces that stand on his back.
He also offered to give an in-camera briefing to the House on Balochistan situation. He said if given opportunity of the in-camera briefing, he would reveal as to how certain outside forces are involved in Balochistan's situation and how the security forces are trying to defuse it.
He posed a question, saying if FC is attacked at night with rocket launchers, what should they do, shouldn't they retaliate? And also said that neither Army nor the FC is involved in the target killings in the province. To another question, the Minister said 48,928 FC personnel and 2,057 Pakistan Coast Guards have been deployed in Balochistan. He said an amount of Rs 14.59 billion have been spent during the last financial year for the management of these personnel in Balochistan.
He said the government was committed to equip the security personnel with the latest gadgets to enhance their capabilities to defend the country and the citizens at the best. To a supplementary question, Rehman said 85 percent implementation has been made on the "Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package" announced by the Prime Minister, while work is underway for the implementation of the remaining components of the package.
He said a detailed presentation will be given to the parliamentarians hailing from Balochistan next week regarding implementation of Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package. Malik further said that employment of youth will be ensured in FC in Balochistan and in this regard amendments will be made to the 1961 Act.
Earlier, senators belonging to Balochistan including Shahid Hasan Bugti, Dr Abdul Malik and Hasil Bizenjo and Ismail Buledi severely criticised the government for its failure to bring back peace to the province. Shahid Bugti, who recalled an interview of IG FC to the state run television dubbed him with General Tika Khan of the time and that he could go to any extent.
To a question, the Interior Minister told the House that 3,395 personnel of Frontier Constabulary and Rangers were deployed for security in Islamabad, incurring over Rs 1.52 billion expenditure during the last five years. He said a case for creation of 2500 posts in ICT Police was under process.
Meanwhile, Leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari told the house that 208 developmental projects were included in PSDP of Higher Education Commission (HEC) during the last financial year. He said that 28 projects have been completed, while the remaining could not be completed due to budgetary problems being faced because of two devastating floods in the country.
He, however, said that efforts were being made for the release of funds to complete the projects in near future. The House also passed "The Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Bill, 2012" to provide for the establishment of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University in Islamabad. The bill was moved by Law Minister Moula Bakhsh Chandio. Later the House was adjourned sine die.