Balochistan CM bans use of bomb-proof vehicles

Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Saturday banned the use of bullet proof and blast proof vehicles for cabinet members and police officials and said that he himself will also not use it. He directed his principal secretary to park all bulletproof and bomb-proof vehicles and stop using them. The chief minister said that in most cases it has been witnessed that security personnel sacrifice their lives and the VIPs are saved due to their use of such vehicles which is not acceptable.

“We have to protect the people rather than ourselves,” Bizenjo said. “There should be no VIP visit route for me,” Bizenjo observed, asking his principal secretary and other high-level officials to strictly follow this policy. Masses should not face problems because of VIP movement, he mentioned. Bizenjo stated that the government was committed to adopting an austerity drive to translate its words into action. Chief minister’s announcement came days after successive terrorist attacks in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

In the past, convoys of the former chief minister, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani and former governor, Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi were targeted in roadside bomb attacks. However, they both survived the attack. General public welcomed the announcement made although, they were still skeptical about the implementation of the decision. There has also been no response from provincial ministers, members of assembly and senior officials in this regard.