Balochistan Government Stands Firmly with Security Forces Against Terrorism, Says Mir Ziaullah Langau

QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau has reaffirmed that the provincial government stands firmly alongside security forces in the fight against terrorism, while rejecting comparisons between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as misleading and unrealistic.

Addressing an important press conference alongside Balochistan Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind and Additional Chief Secretary Home Hamza Shafqaat, Langau criticised remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding security forces and the situation in Balochistan.

Langau said it was regrettable that Fazlur Rehman and his party, despite having experienced difficult periods and the consequences of terrorism in the past, had made statements that he considered inappropriate. He condemned the remarks and stressed that security forces required the full cooperation of the government to eliminate terrorism.

The home minister said the Balochistan government remained united with security forces in this struggle. He added that if the previous KP government had supported the federal government and armed forces in implementing the National Action Plan, the situation might not have reached the point where emergency measures became necessary.

He urged all state institutions and political leaders to support the state in overcoming the country’s current challenges.
Shahid Rind Rejects Claims Over KP Government’s Removal
Speaking at the press conference, Shahid Rind rejected the impression that the KP government had been removed because it failed to pass the Mines and Minerals Act.

He said Balochistan was reviewing its Mines and Minerals Act and that all opposition parties had been taken into confidence during the process.

Rind alleged that the former KP government had misused public resources and official machinery for political purposes, including mobilising efforts against the federal government. He said the Balochistan chief minister had never announced plans for a similar march.

He further stated that legislation introduced in Balochistan to combat terrorism had received approval from both the provincial cabinet and the provincial assembly. According to Rind, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had ensured that opposition parties were taken into confidence during the legislative process.
Over 1,100 Terrorists Killed, 450 Arrested in Two Years
Providing details of the provincial government’s two-year performance and counterterrorism measures, Additional Chief Secretary Home Hamza Shafqaat said Balochistan had undertaken extensive operations in cooperation with security forces.

He said Balochistan had become the first province in the country to approve 18 new laws aimed at combating terrorism and establish 17 specialised institutions and departments for this purpose.

Shafqaat added that special confidential courts, described as “faceless courts”, had been established to handle sensitive cases, with cases against 90 accused individuals registered so far.

According to the additional chief secretary, approximately 1.1 million undocumented Afghan nationals had been sent back to their country safely. He said comprehensive security arrangements were also being implemented to protect national highways.

He reported that more than 60,000 intelligence-based operations and raids had been conducted across different areas of Balochistan over the past two years.

These operations, he said, had resulted in the killing of 1,100 terrorists and the arrest of 450 others.
More Than 300 Security Personnel and 551 Civilians Martyred
Shafqaat said the province had paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism. During the reported period, more than 300 police personnel and security force officers and officials had been martyred, alongside 551 civilians who lost their lives in terrorist incidents.

He also said the Home Department’s administrative systems and all arms licences had been fully digitised to improve transparency, strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure compliance with the law.

The provincial government reiterated its commitment to working with security forces and state institutions to counter terrorism, improve public safety and strengthen law enforcement across Balochistan.