Baloch want right on Gwadar, other resources: Dr Malik

LAHORE: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Sunday that the Baloch want full rights on the Gwadar port and other resources rather than acting merely as chowkidars (guards).
The chief minister said foreign hands, particularly Indian involvement, behind the Balochistan insurgency couldn’t be ruled out. Flanked by president National Party Senator Hasil Bizenjo, the chief minister, while addressing the Punjab convention of the NP and later talking to media stated that the Baloch were peace-loving people and the better option to address their issue was dialogue instead of using force.
“Foreign hands are active in Balochistan but Indian involvement is higher behind the prevailing trouble,” said the chief minister while responding to a question regarding the involvement of Indian spy agency RAW in the province battling insurgency.
He said the Pakistan Army had imparted training to the police of the province and all the postings and transfers of the Balochistan police are made on merit. He also said the Gwadar project was of paramount significance and the Baloch would directly benefit from it rather than acting merely as its chowkidars. He said the Balochistan government has taken solid measures for the promotion of education in the province.
He also said the peace of the province had been restored. He said the security forces’ institutions have been restructured for better performance.Earlier, in the NP convention of its Punjab chapter, Ayub Malik was elected as president whereas Talib Hussain was elected general secretary Punjab. The convention was attended by around 200 office-bearers of the party.
INP adds: Abdul Malik Baloch said estranged people in Balochistan could be brought into the national stream through love and negotiations and not the use of force. He said there has been a significant decrease in the number of cases of target killings and suicide attacks.
He said they formed the government in Balochistan at a difficult time when there were daily incidents of target killings, murders and kidnapping. He said he cleansed the police of political influence and gave full powers to the inspector general police Balochistan by telling him to post officers according to his discretion as the government wanted peace and stability. He said no DPO is posted on the recommendation of ministers or members of the assembly any more and there is no interference of the government in the working of the police. The chief minister said they have eliminated terrorist groups and pointed out that peace would not have been restored if they had indulged in the sale of police stations.
Baloch said the main problems in Balochistan are poverty and lawlessness and the government is paying special attention towards them. He said a lot needs to be done to address these issues.