Terrorists Are a ‘Cancer to Society’ and Will Not Be Tolerated, Says Balochistan CM at Loralai Grand Jirga

QUETTA: A major Grand Jirga was held at Loralai Cantonment to address public grievances, strengthen direct engagement with citizens, and improve coordinated governance at the district level. The event was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Commander 12 Corps Lt Gen Rahat Saleem, IG FC North Maj Gen Atif Mustafa, IG Police Balochistan Muhammad Tahir Khan, Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir Khan, as well as senior civil and military officials.

The jirga also saw the participation of commissioners, DIG Loralai, deputy commissioners of all three districts, district heads, tribal elders, elected representatives, women, students, citizens, and journalists, who were welcomed with traditional tribal turbans.

During the session, citizens presented their issues both verbally and in writing. These included concerns related to law and order, severe electricity shortages, lack of clean drinking water, dilapidated main and link roads, deficiencies in education and healthcare, the non-functionality of the teaching hospital, traffic congestion, and sanitation problems.

Addressing the jirga, CM Bugti, Corps Commander Lt Gen Rahat Saleem, and Governor Mandokhail said the purpose of the gathering was to hear the people directly and ensure sustainable solutions to their problems. CM Bugti announced that all matters within the district administration’s authority would be resolved at the jirga level, while other issues would be taken up at the higher level for long-term decisions.

He added that all departments in the Loralai Division were active and that development projects under the BSDI program were progressing rapidly. This was the government’s seventh Grand Jirga, with the eighth scheduled to be held in Naseerabad Division. The CM issued strict directives to officials, stating that negligence in public service would not be tolerated.

Speaking on terrorism and poppy cultivation, CM Bugti declared a zero-tolerance policy. He said individuals involved in narcotics or poppy cultivation would be added to the Fourth Schedule, their lands would be confiscated, and no collusion in such activities would be accepted. He stressed that tribal cooperation was essential for peace and development and that unity was the only way to defeat the enemy.

In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister thanked tribal elders, women, youth, district officers, and the general public for their participation. He emphasized that the youth of Balochistan are the province’s true strength and its future.