Balochistan govt ready to negotiate with Gwadar protesters
Pakistan has a long list of projects that it wants financed, including a tripartite agreement between China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for an oil refinery in Gwadar. photo: file
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti reitrated that the government was ready to hold negotiations with those protesting in Gwadar to sort out issues through peaceful and political means.
In a session of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, CM Bugti stressed the state's responsibility to maintain order and manage public demonstrations.
"While people have the right to protest, it is the government's mandate to organise these events. We can provide water and facilitate, but we will not allow anyone to disrupt mega projects," he stated. The chief minister suggested that the choice of Gwadar for the protest might be aimed at undermining investment projects.
The session of the Balochistan Assembly resumed with speaker Captain (R) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai in the chair. The house thoroughly discussed the prevailing law and order issues and made recommendations in this regard.
The CM's announcemnet came amid rising tensions surrounding the upcoming protests in Gwadar, organised by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC). The CM stated that the protests, scheduled for July 28, were aimed at disrupting to major Chinese investments in the port city.