QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti delivered a forceful speech in the Provincial Assembly on Saturday, asserting that Pakistan’s national identity comes first and issuing a stern warning against the misuse of state funds for anti-state activities.
Speaking on a point of order raised by National Party chief Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, the Chief Minister declared, “Our identity is first Pakistani, and then Baloch or anything else.” He emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting its citizens, announcing the activation of a de-radicalization center in Quetta. The center, he said, will provide all possible facilities, including family visits, for detained individuals.
The Chief Minister’s remarks were a direct response to concerns raised by Dr. Malik Baloch, who highlighted the recent killings of four to five National Party workers in the Jhao, Gashkor, and Kogran areas and questioned the government’s decision to retain institutions like the Pasni Fish Harbor.
In his reply, CM Bugti acknowledged the sacrifices of the National Party in the war against terror and extended the House’s condemnation of the incidents in Panjgur and Turbat. He addressed Dr. Malik’s reservations about the inclusion of finance officials in language academy boards, explaining that while the government supports mother tongues, an audit revealed concerns. “We only want to ensure that youth are not incited against the state through Balochi poetry and that government money is not used against the state,” he clarified.
Tackling the sensitive issue of missing persons, the Chief Minister outlined a new legal framework. He distinguished between “self-inflicted and enforced disappearances,” stating that a new law mandates informing a detainee’s family within 12 hours of custody. Detainees must be presented before a magistrate and will be allowed weekly family visits during a three-month detention period. Any extension would require approval from the High Court, with a civilian Superintendent of Police (SP) overseeing the process.
Speaking emotionally, the Chief Minister shared his personal connection to the conflict. “I myself am a victim of war, 300 of my people have been martyred, and I have also been a missing person in the past,” he said. He contrasted the government’s efforts, such as opening doors for youth with international organizations like The Howard League for Penal Reform, with the actions of those he accused of turning youth into suicide bombers.
CM Bugti concluded his address by extending an offer for dialogue. “If someone wants to resolve the conflict through talks, we are ready, but not at the point of a gun,” he warned, adding that no demands made under coercion would be accepted.
