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No Talks With Those Who Take Up Arms: CM Bugti
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on Saturday said the fight against terrorism would continue as long as “a single terrorist remains” in the province, stressing that the civilian and military leadership were united in their approach to tackling militancy .
“There is no ambiguity or confusion on this,” Bugti said while speaking via video link to national media anchors and senior journalists at the Chief Minister Secretariat in Quetta . The chief minister said security forces were performing their duties under difficult circumstances and that state institutions were working in complete coordination against terrorism .
“There will be no talks with those who take up arms against the state,” he said.
National Challenge, Not Just Balochistan
Bugti argued that terrorism was not a problem confined to Balochistan but a challenge facing the entire country, requiring coordinated efforts at the national level .
Administrative Reforms and New Provinces
Responding to questions on governance and administrative reforms, the chief minister said it was not possible to effectively manage the entire province from Quetta alone. He said that if new provinces were to be created in Balochistan, they should be formed on administrative rather than ethnic grounds .
Power-Sharing and Governance
On reports of a power-sharing arrangement in the provincial government, Bugti said he was unaware of any agreement under which the government would change after two-and-a-half years. Any decision regarding a change in government rested with the political leadership, he said, adding that he would continue serving the public for as long as he remained in office .
Corruption, Development, and Repatriation
The chief minister acknowledged that he could not claim corruption had been completely eradicated but said it had declined compared with previous years. He said the government was working to ensure merit across public departments, including educational institutions .
Bugti said development projects were being completed in record time, with the provincial government focusing on making development spending more effective, results-oriented, and responsive to public needs. On the repatriation of foreign nationals, he said 1.1 million Afghan refugees, along with other foreigners, had been sent back to their countries from Balochistan .
Missing Persons Issue
Addressing the issue of missing persons, Bugti said it had at times been presented by national media and other forums without adequate context, resulting in what he described as an incomplete picture of the situation .
