News Desk:
Islamabad – Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has announced that effective legislation on the missing persons issue has been completed, stressing that it is the state’s fundamental responsibility to arrest terrorists and produce them before the courts under the rule of law.
Speaking at the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan conference, Bugti said that individuals who take up arms against the state and attempt to destabilize Pakistan through violence will face decisive counter-terrorism action. He reaffirmed that Balochistan’s accession to Pakistan is a historic fact, while separatist propaganda spread internationally seeks to distort reality.
Bugti highlighted that for decades, a misleading narrative about Balochistan had been promoted in Islamabad, whereas in reality, separatist militants continue to receive support from a neighboring country. “No sovereign state in the world tolerates separatist movements,” he said, adding that recurring bombings and terrorist attacks in Balochistan have inflicted irreparable damage on Pakistan’s security and economy.
Missing Persons Legislation and Counter-Terrorism Measures
The Chief Minister declared that this is the first government to take concrete steps to resolve the missing persons crisis. He criticized political groups for exploiting the issue for personal gain, saying it only deepens Balochistan’s backwardness.
He recalled that Farari camps were established in 2001, and while the 2008 general elections were the most peaceful in the province’s history, militancy re-emerged when certain released individuals in 2018 rejoined banned terrorist organizations. Bugti described the 2016 Quetta Civil Hospital bombing, which killed dozens of lawyers, as a “national tragedy,” and credited law enforcement agencies for later arresting the mastermind.
“Pakistan Will Never Be Divided”
Reaffirming national unity, Bugti said: “Pakistan belongs to its people and will never be divided. Those dreaming of splitting Balochistan like a piece of cake will never succeed in their designs.” He dismissed claims of conflict between Punjab and Balochistan, clarifying that Lahore and Quetta cannot be compared, and development disparities are being addressed.
He reminded that Balochistan was once “British Balochistan” before voluntarily acceding to Pakistan, a fact he described as an “undeniable historical truth.”
Focus on Good Governance and Development
Bugti emphasized that the Balochistan government is working on reforms in education, healthcare, and governance, with results beginning to benefit ordinary citizens.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced a Rs. 100 million grant for the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBA).
