Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti Highlights Historical Context and Security Measures at 16th National Workshop

Quetta:Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, while addressing the participants of the 16th National Workshop Balochistan, emphasized the importance of understanding the province’s issues through a historical lens. He stated that prevailing perceptions about Balochistan in other parts of the country are often contrary to the reality.

He highlighted that Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri supported separatism, whereas Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo believed in democratic struggle. Bugti affirmed that the government is committed to addressing the grievances of disillusioned youth and reintegrating them into the national mainstream.

“There can be no dialogue outside the Constitution with those who kill innocents or seek to break the state,” he asserted. “Terrorism, whether in the name of nationalism or religion, remains terrorism.”

He clarified that the roots of insurgency are not solely due to underdevelopment or unemployment, but stem from aspirations for a separate state based on ethnic identity.

The Chief Minister condemned anti-state intelligence drone operations as threats not just to the state but to every Pakistani. He said isolated operations in Kalat have been falsely portrayed as province-wide campaigns in the past, calling for analytical clarity through historical understanding.

Bugti announced the implementation of a Provincial Action Plan for peace and security, along with enhanced response mechanisms. He assured that terrorists cannot hold ground in any part of Balochistan and that their main objective is to spread fear.

He also addressed governance reforms, saying that comprehensive legislation regarding missing persons has been enacted and service delivery mechanisms are being improved. “We are reforming governance and ensuring that 99.99% of recruitments in health and education have been merit-based,” he said.

Students from Balochistan are now receiving national and international scholarships, and anti-corruption bodies like CMIT and the Anti-Corruption Department have been made fully functional.

Regarding the recent brutal murder of a man and woman, the CM stated that transparent investigations are underway. Since no relatives have come forward to register an FIR, the state has taken the role of complainant. “We stand with the victims and will pursue justice through strong legal action,” he affirmed.

Bugti concluded by underlining the complexity of operations in “grey zones” where distinguishing between friend and foe remains a challenge but stressed the state’s resolve to restore lasting peace.