QUETTA : Balochistan’s political and administrative leadership has refuted allegations that security forces caused damage to a mosque and madrasa during recent clashes in Mastung, attributing the destruction instead to banned militant organizations.
Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Lango, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), emphasized the sanctity of religious places, stating that mosques are the holiest sites on earth and no Muslim could even contemplate damaging them.
“During clashes, thousands of bullets and shells are exchanged when security forces respond to attacks. It becomes difficult to determine precisely whose bullets damaged the holy sites,” Lango explained.
The Interior Minister clarified that if any sacred place sustained damage, the responsibility would rest with the extremists who have created the current volatile situation. He pointed out that militant groups not only block highways but also conduct attacks near populated areas.
“If security forces do not retaliate against them, they are criticized. If they do retaliate, they face criticism as well. It remains unclear why no action would be taken against them,” the minister added.
Babar Yousafzai, Assistant to the Interior Department for Media, categorically dismissed any involvement of security forces in the damage, asserting that the mosque and madrasa were harmed by the “mischievous actions of banned organizations” rather than military operations.
The officials’ statements come amid ongoing scrutiny of military operations in the region, where counter-insurgency efforts have intensified against banned groups operating in Balochistan.
