Respect flag or be crushed: Shehbaz

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to eradicate terrorism from Balochistan, declaring that only those who respect the Constitution of Pakistan and national flag will be considered for dialogue.

The PM asserted that those who shed the blood of innocent people will be defeated with full force and national support.

"Dialogue can only be possible with those who salute the national flag," PM Shehbaz clarified.

He further said that the entire nation was aggrieved by synchronised terror attacks in Balochistan. "Khwarij, who shed the blood of innocent people, will not be spared," he said. He continued that all obstacles in the path to development and prosperity in the province will be removed.

Addressing a meeting of the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan in Quetta, he emphasised that the sacrifices of the people of Balochistan for national development will not go in vain.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Planning Dr Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema.

Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti, key provincial ministers, provincial secretaries, the commander of the Balochistan Corps, as well as senior civil, police, intelligence, and military officials were also present.

The committee strongly condemned the recent cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis and vowed to intensify counter-terrorism efforts in the province by utilising all available resources to eradicate militancy.

The security situation in Balochistan and ongoing operations against terrorists were comprehensively reviewed, with the committee deciding to further strengthen intelligence sharing and linkages between security forces and law enforcement agencies.

It was reported that PM Shehbaz vowed to appoint capable and promising officers to Balochistan, offering special incentives for them. The same report suggested that the prime minister realised the importance of appointing competent officers in the province, acknowledging that concerns over security had made some officials reluctant to serve in Balochistan.

PM Shehbaz said a new policy has been formulated under which officers from the 48th Common Training Programme would be posted in Balochistan for one year, followed by postings of officers of the 49th Common Training Programme for one-and-a-half years.

It was also reported that the PM announced that officers posted in Balochistan would receive special perks, including four air tickets for their families every three months. Additionally, they will be awarded three extra performance points based on their work and achievements.

At the meeting, the apex committee also agreed to enhance the capacity of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), police, levies, and related departments. Both the prime minister and Pakistani Army chief reiterated their resolve to prevent hostile forces from undermining the peace and development of Balochistan at any cost.

The participants of the meeting observed a moment of silence and offered Fateha for the martyrs of the recent terror attacks, expressing solidarity with the families of the victims and commending the bravery of the security forces for their timely response in preventing the further loss of innocent lives.

The committee further vowed that the planners, instigators, facilitators, and perpetrators of the heinous attacks would be brought to justice, and that the protection of the lives and property of citizens would be ensured at all costs.

At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif distributed compensation cheques to the families of the martyrs, assuring them of the state's full support and protection.

The committee unequivocally condemned the cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis and resolved to intensify counter-terrorism efforts in the province, leveraging multidomain resources to eradicate terrorism.

Earlier in the day, PM had arrived in Quetta for a day-long visit to address the security situation in Balochistan. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti welcomed him at the airport, along with Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.