QUETTA: Senior Provincial Minister for Irrigation and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mir Muhammad Sadiq Imrani has called for a full-scale military operation in Balochistan to eradicate terrorism, asserting that the provincial government will deploy all available resources to restore lasting peace in the region.
Speaking during an online telephone conversation on Friday, Imrani emphasized that the PPP stands firmly with the Pakistan Army on matters of national security. “A military operation should be conducted in the province to eliminate terrorism, and the PPP will fully support the armed forces in this effort,” he stated.
The minister’s remarks came shortly after a crucial three-hour meeting between PPP provincial ministers and parliamentary representatives in Karachi, where participants extensively reviewed the security landscape, law and order challenges, and ongoing development projects in Balochistan. Sources indicate that multiple suggestions were tabled to improve the ground situation and expedite peace-building efforts.
According to Imrani, President Asif Ali Zardari presided over the deliberations and gave a clear directive that the government would harness every available resource to stabilize the province. “There is no doubt that the PPP has its roots in the people, and we will improve the situation only with the cooperation of the people,” Imrani quoted the president as saying.
Addressing queries regarding a possible change in the provincial leadership, Imrani categorically dismissed ongoing speculation about Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti’s removal. “Rumors of the Chief Minister’s change have been circulating for a long time, and these rumors will remain. The Chief Minister is working with his team, and there is no truth to these reports,” he clarified. He also revealed that during the meeting, an attempt was made to contact Chief Minister Bugti via video call, but he had already left Multan and could not be reached.
Imrani underscored the urgency of the security situation, warning that terrorism has severely deteriorated conditions on national highways. He stressed that protecting the lives and property of citizens, alongside ensuring safe travel across the province, necessitates an immediate and uncompromising operation against militant elements.
