BLA to face action, NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary has stated that action will be taken against the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) involved in the attack on the Jaffar Express.

The debate on the presidential address to the joint session of Parliament and the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express continued in the National Assembly on Friday, following the suspension of the House’s routine business.

Participating in the discussion, Talal Chaudhary noted that both the BLA and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) follow similar patterns and enjoy support from a neighbouring country.

He commended the security forces for their successful operation against the terrorists involved in the recent attack on the train. “The way our security forces conducted the operation to rescue innocent passengers deserves recognition. These brave individuals risked their lives to protect our people,” he said.

Talal emphasised that Pakistan is fighting a frontline war against terrorism. “Pakistan wants to make the entire world safe from terrorism. If the terrorists succeed, the entire world will be unsafe,” he added.

He urged all political stakeholders to engage in serious dialogue on Pakistan’s future, particularly on issues of national security. “This is a matter of national security. Let’s sit down and talk—whether about the National Action Plan or any other strategy. But speeches alone won’t solve anything,” he said.

He praised the unity shown by the national leadership, including both the government and opposition in Balochistan, in addressing the menace of terrorism.

Talal also stated that BLA facilitators on social media would be dealt with strictly.

“Terrorism started because the RTS (Result Transmission System) failed in 2018,” he claimed.

He highlighted that terrorism was rampant across the country in 2013, but through Nawaz Sharif’s decisions, made with good intentions, consensus, and consultation, it was significantly reduced. However, he lamented that after 2018, the Taliban were resettled for political gains, leading to a resurgence of terrorist activities.

He said the prime minister visited Balochistan whe re the provincial government and opposition sat together and made decisions.

Talal Chaudhary criticised opposition members for not listening to the President’s address and instead using the House to create content for social media. “These people come to the House to make videos and play them on social media,” he said.

He challenged the opposition to showcase their 12 years of work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), pointing out the lack of medicine in hospitals, people cannot leave their homes at night, their own people are telling stories of corruption there.

Responding to concerns over the resurgence of terrorism, the minister of state stressed the urgent need for full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). “It’s been 20 years, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received over Rs600 billion through the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Yet, their Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) still operates from rented buildings and lacks proper resources,” he lamented.

He criticised the KP government for failing to build institutional capacity. “Our intelligence agencies provide timely information, but implementation at the provincial level is missing. In Punjab, intelligence leads are acted upon, and results are visible. But in KP, either there’s no capacity or no will to act,” he said.

He expressed readiness to present his and the Interior Ministry’s one-year performance for accountability. “If there is any deficiency, it will be improved,” he said.

Talal praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for organising the SCO conference and international tournaments peacefully. “Projects like bridges and underpasses, which used to take years, are now being completed in two months. Stadiums of international standards have been built and are a gift for Pakistan,” he said.

PTI Parliamentary Leader Zartaj Gul criticised the government, stating that terrorists are challenging the writ of the state. “The defence minister is criticising the PTI instead of answering questions,” she said.

She accused Khawaja Asif of losing the elections to PTI’s Rehana Dar.

Zartaj Gul criticised the prime minister’s foreign visits, claiming that promised investments have not materialised. “The youth are leaving the country in droves, with four to five million already gone. No one is ready to live in Pakistan due to the poor law and order situation,” she said. She highlighted a 11 percent decrease in wheat production, necessitating a $1 billion wheat import. “This wheat will be imported because they will make their own commissions,” she alleged. Zartaj Gul also censured the Sindh government, accusing an official of asking a Chinese company for a flat in Burj Khalifa in exchange for investing in CPEC.

She called on the government to brief Parliament on measures being taken to combat terrorism across the country.

Usman Badini, participating in the debate, emphasised the need to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan. “Practical steps need to be taken to address the problems of the province,” he said.

He questioned why educated individuals in Balochistan are forced to take up arms. “Balochistan is burning. Small incidents have now become major issues,” he said, adding that the province has faced problems for 75 years.

“If the situation in Afghanistan and Iran deteriorates, the problem comes to Balochistan,” he said, adding, “We gave Reko Diq and highways but forgot that Baloch children are hungry. We have to think why the children of Balochistan are left behimd.”

Badini stressed the need for trust-building and collective efforts to solve Balochistan’s issues. “There is a lack of trust in Balochistan,” he said.

“Terrorism is happening in every corner of Pakistan. For God’s sake, don’t do politics on Balochistan. Open your hearts and make real decisions,” he urged.

PMLN legislator Aftab Sheikh stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved without economic stability. “If we believe we can establish peace without improving the economy, we are deceiving ourselves,” he said, urging immediate attention to the country’s economic challenges.

He recalled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to convene an all parties conference to devise a strategy against terrorism. “Today, the situation demands the same unity and seriousness,” he added.

PPP Legislator Sehar Kamran commended the security forces for their successful operation against the terrorists who attacked the Jaffar Express. She highlighted President Asif Ali Zardari’s emphasis on unity and reconciliation in his address to the joint session of Parliament.

Sehar Kamran recalled the tragic 2014 APS attack and praised President Zardari for urging political forces to set aside differences and work together in the national interest. “It was under his leadership that we endorsed the National Action Plan, which led to difficult yet necessary operations to restore peace in the country,” she said.