QUETTA: Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti have said that conspiracies being hatched by terrorists will be foiled with the cooperation of tribal people.

Addressing a peace jirga attended by representatives of different tribes of Zhob and Sherani districts on Friday, they said the government and security forces were taking all steps for the elimination of Khawarij terrorists and their facilitators to ensure peace and order in the province.

Nobody will be allowed to attack the ideology of Pakistan, they declared at the jirga attended by a large number of tribal elders, ministers and people from different segments of society.

“The government is making all-out efforts to make highways safe for people,” he said.

Balochistan governor, CM assure tribal elders their problems will be resolved

The governor said Islam is a religion of peace, and castigated the terrorists for carrying out their activities in the name of Islam.

“There is no space for terrorism, killing of innocent people and receiving extortion,” he said, adding that if terrorist activities were not brought to an end survival of people would become very difficult.

Chief Minister Bugti emphasised that Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan National Highway was the backbone of Balochistan’s economy.

He said that ensuring safety of roads and highways was a part of the government’s peace efforts.

He said foreign elements were attempting to divide people through various conspiracies aimed at attacking the ideology of Pakistan, but they would never succeed in their malicious intentions.

‘Exploitation’ of women

The CM expressed the hope that people of Balochistan, along with tribal leaders and security forces, would thwart all such plots.

The chief minister underscored that disrupting law and order was intended to weaken the country, emphasising that foreign elements were inciting the public for these nefarious purposes.

He regretted that women were now being exploited in acts of terrorism, which goes against the traditions of Balochistan.

During the jirga, dignitaries assured the chief minister of their full support in the government’s actions aimed at restoring peace. The tribal elders also brought various issues to the CM’s attention.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024