PM Shehbaz vows unwavering govt resolve to uproot terrorism during Quetta visit

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Thursday vowed the unwavering resolve of the government to root out the menace of terrorism with collective efforts.

“The entire nation is grieved by the recent tragic incident occurred in Balochistan. Khwarij who shed the blood of innocent people will be crushed through joint efforts of the nation and the valiant forces of Pakistan,” he said while addressing a high-level Apex Committee meeting here at CM Secretariat, Quetta.

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal, Corps Commander Balochistan, and other armed and civilian officials were in attendance.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while expressed his profound grief over the loss of precious lives caused by the terrorist incident in Balochistan on August 26 as saying. “It was an extremely tragic and barbaric incident that caused a wave of grief across Pakistan.

“The entire nation is saddened by this horrific incident, but we make it clear that with, determination, and unwavering resolve, we will eliminate terrorism in Balochistan.

Balochistan is an important and beautiful province of Pakistan, and all obstacles in its path to development and prosperity will be removed for good.

The Prime Minister hinted at the involvement of foreign elements and said the Khawarij planned terrorism in Pakistan and shed the blood of innocent Pakistanis, including law enforcement agencies.

He, however, reiterated the government’s determination to crush those involved in the ghastly bloodshed. The blood of the martyrs will not go in vain, he added.

Expressing his great trust in the professional capabilities of the armed and civilian forces, he said under the guidance of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and with full cooperation from the federal government and the leadership of Balochistan, the terrorism will be rooted out.

“Sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the motherland and the innocent civilians will not go to waste, the PM further remarked.

PM chairs high level meeting of leaders of political parties

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday chaired a high level meeting of leaders of political parties here and discussed the overall security situation in Balochistan.

The meeting was attended by Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir and Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran from Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Zahoor Ahmed Baleedi, and Meena Baloch from Pakistan Peoples Party, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Rehmat Saleh Baloch and Mir Kabir Muhammad from National Party, Khalid Hussain Magsi and Sadiq Sanjrani from Balochistan Awami Party, Zamrak Khan Achakzai and Mr Asghar from Awami National Party, Maulana Abdul Wase and Yunus Zahri from JUI and Abdul Khaliq Hazara from Hazara Democratic Party.

In the meeting, the political party leaders informed the prime minister about the problems faced by the people of Balochistan.

The meeting reviewed the overall security situation of the province and the ongoing operations against terrorists.

The participants of the meeting expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of recent terrorism in Balochistan and appreciated the bravery of the security forces for their timely response to prevent the loss of more innocent lives.

The participants also condemned the cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis in clear words.

In the meeting, it was decided to utilize all out resources to eliminate terrorism from the province.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, Governor Balochistan Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also attended the meeting.

Policy to depute all 48th Common Group officers in Balochistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the federal government had decided to depute all the police/civil officers of 48th Common Group in Balochistan without discrimination to ensure peace, stability, and development of the province.

“After discussion with the Interior Minister, the Army Chief and other relevant high authorities, we have made a policy under which all the talented and efficient officers will be deployed in various districts and divisions of the province,” the prime minister said in his concluding remarks in the meeting of Provincial Apex Committee of the National Action Plan here.

Announcing the policy, he said half officers of the 48th Common Group of both police and civil side would be posted to Balochistan immediately for one year. The remaining half officers would be posted after six months from their initial deployment who would also serve for a period of one year.

Similarly, he said after one year, the first half of the officers from the 49th Common Group would be posted to Balochistan for one year. After one and a half years, the remaining half of the officers from the 49th Group would be posted to Balochistan for one year.

The prime minister announced that the officers posted under the policy would be given four air tickets for every quarter. Additionally, these officers might also be given three extra points in their performance subject to their commitment and their service in the province.

He said the government will implement the policy immediately with the coordination of the Balochistan government.

As regards the possibility of dialogues with the terrorists, the prime minister made it clear that the federal and the provincial governments along with all security forces had iron resolve to eliminate all the anti-state elements who had nefarious designs to destabilize the country.

The prime minister said, “It is our national, political, and religious duty to fight against such elements and dialogues could only be possible with those who respect the country’s constitution and salute the national flag. We must have to differentiate between these two elements to ensure the development and prosperity of the country.”

PM Shehbaz Sharif informed that the government had also decided to double the staff of the passport office at the Chaman border while the director of cyber Balochistan will also be deputed in the next few days.

He said a lot of development works had already been completed in the province. Similarly, he said the Balochistan’s share in the 2010 NFC award had also been increased by 100% to ensure the speedy development of the province.

The prime minister highlighted that the Gwadar port was vital for the development and prosperity of the province and the country. However, he said some anti-state elements did not want China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Gwadar Port to be operationalised.