We will extend full cooperation to Provincial Government for peace in Balochistan: Mohsin Naqvi
QUETTA, August 27 (SABAH): Interior Minister Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi called on Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Bugti in Quetta on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed issues pertaining to law and order situation and measures taken for protection of lives of people in the province.
They strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks and paid rich tribute to sacrifices of martyred Security personnel. They also expressed sympathy with bereaved families.
The Interior Minister said we will extend full cooperation to Provincial Government for peace in Balochistan.
The Balochistan Chief Minister said more steps would be taken to ensure peace in the province.
Mohsin Naqvi vowed to stand behind Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s government regarding its counterterrorism strategy.
Addressing the media in Quetta flanked by CM Bugti, Naqvi said: “My aim to visit is to let you all and the people of Balochistan know that the federal interior minister is standing behind the Balochistan chief minister. “Whatever decision he (Bugti) makes, we will support him,” the interior minister affirmed.
“Everyone — [including] the president, prime minister, and the army chief — is concerned for Balochistan and is working towards a solution,” Naqvi told the media.
He highlighted that although there was a federal cabinet meeting earlier today — which was supposed to be attended by federal ministers, including him — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told him to visit Balochistan instead. “While some actions may be apparent to you, some are under way at the backend, which the chief minister himself is leading,” Naqvi said.
The interior minister reiterated that the federal government would provide the Balochistan CM with whatever support he needed: “There is full support from the federation. The interior ministry is his own.”
Stating that the entire leadership was in deep grief over the recent attacks, Naqvi asserted, “Such incidents are absolutely intolerable”.
“Together, we will close the door to these incidents. Those thinking that they can relay their message or scare us by these incidents will soon receive a ‘good message’.”
“We have to pursue those who are planning these [attacks], perpetrating this and forming this entire strategy,” Naqvi affirmed.
“You will see in the coming days; God-willingly, they all (terrorists) will be dealt with,” the interior minister vowed.
Mohsin Naqvi further said the provincial government was alert. “About the current approach, even your biggest enemy is saying that the Balochistan government has never before taken this approach,” he quipped.
He assailed the terrorists for “carrying out attacks while in hiding”, stating that they should have had the courage to “come face to face” with the security forces.
Speaking about the government’s future action, Naqvi said: “There is no need for any operation; they only need an SHO’s (station house officer’s) response and they will [remain at that level].”
The minister later clarified he was only citing an SHO as an example and that the operation would entail efforts on a larger scale.
“They are terrorists and our civil armed forces, armed forces, and the police know how to combat them,” Naqvi asserted.
Speaking alongside Naqvi, CM Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti said the hunt for terrorists was underway and a “response mechanism” was in place.
“How can you say that there was no response [to the attacks]?” the chief minister said, as he cited the example of a captain who was martyred while responding to terror-related incidents in the province.
“He sacrificed his life for the people of Balochistan,” Bugti highlighted, adding that the government stood with the “53 [bereaved] families”.
The chief minister spoke in detail about the security challenges posed by Balochistan’s terrain and the strategies deployed by the terrorists.
Pointing out that there were 4,000 kilometres of roads across the province, CM Bugti said the terrorists “find an inch [of area] among those and operate […] after entering our society”.
“How will we know whether a person is coming for recee or is a traveller? Then you have issues when we stop them,” he added.
“They carry out recee and find our weakest spot. They come for half an hour, find the softest target, offload passengers from a bus and shoot them dead,” the chief minister explained.
“Whether it is our federal government or provincial government or our armed forces, we will go against them at any cost and every cost,” Bugti vowed.