State Cannot Leave Citizens at the Mercy of Terrorists, Protection of Private Properties is Owner’s Responsibility: CM Sarfraz Bugti

Quetta (Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai)
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, in a policy statement in the Balochistan Assembly, said that the state cannot under any circumstances leave its citizens, security personnel and law enforcement agencies at the mercy of terrorists. Maintaining a civil-military balance in Balochistan is the need of the hour to ensure peace.
Responding to a point of order raised by the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Minister said that security forces are currently operating in a “grey zone”. They must be provided with a favorable environment, an “enabling environment”, for effective action against terrorism.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that words are not enough to condemn the brutality with which our soldiers are being martyred and their bodies burnt. The Captain martyred yesterday had a six-month-old daughter, the grief of the Captain martyred in Dalbandin and his family is indescribable. It is not normal that every session of the Assembly begins with Fateha Khwani.
Clear Stance on Gardens and Private Properties
Clarifying his earlier statement, the Chief Minister said that the government has never asked the public to pick up arms. It is the job of the Army, FC and Police to fight. The job of the public is only to inform.
He said that if someone’s private property, garden, hotel or shop is being used as a bunker and launching pad for terrorists, the state cannot remain silent. Just as it is mandatory to provide information under the Hotel Act and Rental Act, information will also have to be provided for gardens. If someone fails to inform, the state will be compelled to consider him a facilitator.
Shor Parod Operation, Mastung Not Included
Regarding displacement, the Chief Minister clarified that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entire divisions were vacated, but in Balochistan not a single village has been vacated to date. Mastung is not included in the current plan.
Shor Parod is a mountain range where fugitive camps have existed since 1970. There is only a nomadic population of about 1,000 people there who will be temporarily relocated. This is not permanent displacement, it is only at the planning stage. The government will take full care of their honour, especially women, children and the elderly.
What is the Solution?
The Chief Minister said there are only two solutions to this war. The first is dialogue, if anyone can find a solution through negotiations, they should come forward, the government will welcome it. But there is no example in the world where negotiations with a violent group have been successful.
The second way is to make warfare and lawfare effective. Intelligence-based, military, FC, police, and CTD operations are inevitable. If operations are not to be conducted, then an alternative solution should be given.
In the end, he said that the Constitution demands loyalty along with rights. The public should not allow their private properties to be used by terrorists, otherwise there is a limit to patience.