Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, reaffirmed the government’s readiness to engage in negotiations with protestors in Gwadar, advocating for peaceful and political solutions to the ongoing issues. In a recent session of the Balochistan Assembly, Bugti underscored the state’s duty to maintain order and oversee public demonstrations.
“While people have the right to protest, it is the government’s mandate to organize these events. We can provide water and facilitate, but we will not allow anyone to disrupt mega projects,” he stated, hinting that the choice of Gwadar for the protest might be intended to hinder significant investment projects in the area.
The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Captain (R) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, delved into the current law and order situation, with members offering various recommendations. The CM’s announcement comes amid rising tensions over the upcoming protests in Gwadar, organized by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC), set for July 28. Bugti expressed concerns that the protests aim to disrupt major Chinese investments in the port city.
Stressing the importance of resolving grievances through dialogue, Bugti said, “Despite actions against our security forces and civilians, we are still ready to engage in dialogue. We want peace in Balochistan to make Pakistan a strong country in the comity of nations,” underscoring the government’s commitment to peaceful resolution.
Amid these developments, security concerns have increased, with intelligence reports suggesting potential threats to the Gwadar gathering. “There are serious threats to the gathering, but the government is determined to provide security to the people,” Bugti assured, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to ensuring safety.
During the session, senior parliamentarian Mir Sadiq Umrani and Ali Madad Jattak from the Pakistan Peoples Party echoed Bugti’s call for unity and development. “Our forces have rendered great sacrifices to protect this country and nation,” Umrani noted, highlighting the sacrifices made by security forces.
Ali Madad Jattak added, “The Baloch people are patriotic and stand for peace and development,” supporting the government’s stance against violence. Additionally, Rehmat Baloch, a leader from the Baloch nationalist party National Party (NP), condemned the targeting of civilians and vulnerable groups by extremists, urging collective action against those endangering innocent lives.
As the date for the BYC gathering approaches, the Balochistan government remains focused on maintaining stability and preventing the protests from escalating into violence or affecting key infrastructure projects.
