Balochistan security crisis: Chief Minister orders crackdown | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Balochistan security crisis: Chief Minister orders crackdown

By: Mohammad Zafar

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani on Saturday ordered a crackdown against criminals involved in kidnappings for ransom and disrupting peace.

During a high-profile meeting on the ongoing security crisis at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, CM Raisani also took notice of the ongoing doctors’ strike and directed the chief secretary of Balochistan to take disciplinary action against them, if they did not return to their official duties within 24 hours.

Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Naseebullah Bazai also briefed the participants of the meeting on the law and order situation, while the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Quetta, Mir Zubair briefed them on security situation of Quetta. Provincial Minister of Finance Mir Asim Kurd, Health Minister Haji Ainullah Shams, Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Feteh Mohammad, Commissioner of Quetta, Qamber Dashti and Deputy Commissioner Hashim Gilzai were also present in the meeting.

Raisani directed the various provincial law enforcement agencies to further strengthen their efforts to cope with the deteriorating law and order situation. He also directed them to heighten security measures on all major roads and highways of all the provincial districts. He urged security forces to remain steadfast while dealing with criminal elements in the province.

Briefing the meeting, CCPO Mir Zubair said that the culprits responsible for Dr Ghulam Rasool’s kidnapping would be brought to the book.

The meeting also decided that the writ of the government would be established at any cost and no one would be allowed to violate the law. CM Raisani added that the government would continue to come down hard on those who endangered the lives of the Baloch people and disrupted peace in the province.

Doctors continue striking

Striking doctors on Saturday continued to boycott their duties, closing the out-patient departments in protest against the lack of arrests made in connection with Dr Ghulam Rasool’s kidnapping.

All the major roads in Quetta wore a deserted look and many disgruntled patients had to return home without treatment. The doctors demanded the Balochistan government to reimburse the money paid as ransom for the release of Dr Rasool.

The Express Tribune