No negotiations with those who killed innocent citizens: Sarfraz Bugti

LAHORE: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has declared that there will be no negotiations with terrorists who have brutally martyred innocent citizens in Balochistan.

“The state and the government stand with the oppressed,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, Chief Minister Bugti condemned the recent attacks in Balochistan where terrorists forcibly took innocent passengers off buses and martyred them. He said that women and travelers are highly respected in Baloch tradition.

Bugti announced that the Balochistan government will provide financial assistance to the families of the martyrs, with each family receiving Rs2 million. The government will also compensate for the loss of vehicles destroyed in these incidents, he said

Commenting on the growing unrest in the province, Bugti stated that those responsible for the killings should not be referred to as “angry Baloch” but as terrorists.

“In any case, the writ of the state will be established,” he asserted adding that “The government cannot be handed over to these groups.”

He further said that no group will be allowed to impose their ideology on Pakistan or take the law into their own hands.

“We will deal with the facilitators of terrorists in the same way. We will make every effort to crush the wave of terrorism in Balochistan.”

Chief Minister Bugti said that they had nothing to do with nationalism and vowed that terrorists and their facilitators will be brought to justice.

Referring to the possibility of negotiations, he asked, “Should I negotiate with those who martyred innocent citizens? There will be no negotiations with those who martyred innocent citizens.”

Bugti argued that the conflict in Balochistan is not a war of rights but terrorism. He pointed out that the problem lies in uneven development, stating that similar development works are being carried out in Lahore, but not in other parts of Punjab. He highlighted that unequal development is an issue affecting the whole of Pakistan.

He concluded by noting that the rights granted to Balochistan by the Constitution of Pakistan are being met and acknowledged Punjab’s contribution to Balochistan through the NFC award.