QUETTA - Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch has announced that the provincial government would initiate dialogue process with the separatist elements and those who are waging fight in the name of religion after Eid.
“A committee comprising parliamentarians and tribal elders would start negotiation to materialise the task,” he added.
He stated this responding to the point of orders raised by different members in the Balochistan Assembly Monday over the poor law and order situation and hour long power loadshedding. He also stressed that all unnecessary check posts of Frontier Corps and Levies Forces would be removed from the province.
He said that written assurance has been taken from the federal government for the completion of transmission lines between Khuzdar and Dadu, and Dera Ghazai and Khan–Loralai. The CM condemned the murder of nephew of Jan Muhammad Buledi, spokesman of government Balochistan and Coast Guards personnel in Gwadar.
Referring to law and order in Quetta, he said the government is reviewing the situation and has sought reports from all police stations. “We’ll take strict action against the officers found involved in anti-people activities,” he added. He said the situation is being monitored in all districts and honest and devoted District Police Officers have been deployed to improve law and order situation.
CM Baloch said that corruption-related incidents are still taking place at check posts, adding that reports have been sought in this connection. “All unnecessary check posts of Police, FC or Levies would be removed and only the check posts proposed by area representatives and Deputy Commissioners would be left,” he added. Similarly, he said that the provincial government would take up the issue with the federal government to undo unnecessary check post of FC.
Referring to the ongoing power loadshedding, Dr Maalik said the government is monitoring the situation on daily basis and has also taken up the issue with high ups in Islamabad who have assured all-out cooperation in this regard. “The Wapda authorities have assured us to complete Dadu-Khuzdar transmission line within two months while Dera Ismail Khan–Loralai transmission till December,” he added. Besides, he informed that talks were underway with Iran for importing 1000 MW electricity. He regretted there was no proper formula of distribution of electricity. “We have raised the point that electricity should be provided to the area first where it is produced, and later it should be given to other areas of the country,” he added.
Earlier, Opposition leader Maulana Abdul Wasey deplored that the ongoing loadshedding has caused irreparable loss to the agriculture sector of the province as the damaged power pylons could not be repaired yet. He claimed the incidents of kidnapping for ransom are increasing and the common people are now afraid of security forces that are raiding houses of the masses.
National Party MPA Rehmat Baloch claimed that Mekran Division is getting 75 MW from Iran while it needed only 60 MW. Despite the surplus electricity, there is 12-hour loadshedding in Panjgur.
Majeed Khan Achakzai claimed that private check posts are harassing the people in Qila Abdullah, raising a sharp sense of insecurity among the public.
Ghulam Dhastagir Badini said that people of Naushki, Chagai and Washuk are being provided electricity only for one hour and situation has made the public life miserable.