Law and order: Balochistan MPAs call for de-politicising police

Agree to launch all possible efforts to eradicate terrorism from the province.

QUETTA: As they unanimously agreed to launch all possible efforts to eradicate terrorism from their province, members of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday called for the complete de-politicisation of police to achieve this aim.

The observation was made as the house discussed an adjournment motion moved by opposition leader Maulana Wassey in the previous session.

Speaking on occasion, Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti claimed that the police department had already been de-politicised.  “There is no political interference in transfers and postings of police officers. Gone are the days when relatives of MPAs were involved in kidnappings,” he said.

Bugti added that the Frontier Corps (FC) had also been called in to maintain law and order in Balochistan.

However, opposition MPA Engineer Zamrak Khan pointed out that threats to law and order were once again emerging in Balochistan. He also questioned the role of FC in the province given the existence of police and levies. “FC presence gives the impression that the police and levies have failed,” he said.

Opposition leader Wassey, meanwhile, connected terrorist activity in Balochistan to work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Much of the benefit of this project will go Punjab even as children and security personnel lose their lives in Balochistan,” he said. Still, he said all opposition MPAs were with the government against all acts of terrorism.

Home Minister Bugti assured that the provincial government would soon hold an in-camera briefing for MPAs on the law and order situation. “The world has eyes on Balochistan due to its mineral resources and opposition to CPEC,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th,  2016.