Media paints negative picture of Balochistan: CM

Raisani says international conspiracy at play in the province.

QUETTA:

It’s proverbial Nero-fiddles-while-Rome-burns situation.

While Balochistan is sliding into chaos, the chief minister says the situation is not as bad as is portrayed by the media.

“It appears some lobby is trying to pave the way for some unconstitutional step in Balochistan,” Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani told a high-level meeting in Quetta on Monday.

He blamed the same lobby for spreading negativity about Balochistan through print and electronic media.

An international conspiracy is at play in Balochistan, the chief minister said referring to the unabated violence in the province. Pakistan has repeatedly blamed foreign forces for creating instability in the province.

The meeting reviewed the security situation, as well as preparations for monsoon rains. It decided to take steps to keep prices of daily-use items under control during the holy month of Ramazan.

The meeting also reviewed the restoration of Nato supplies through Balochistan. The home secretary told the participants that the federal government has not informed the provincial government about the restoration of Nato supplies.

However, the home department has clarified to the federal government that it could not provide security to Nato supplies due to its limited resources, he added.

Chief Minster Raisani said that it was not the responsibility of the provincial government to provide security to Nato supplies.

The meeting also discussed the issue of human trafficking through Balochistan.

The chief minister directed the security forces to take strict action against those involved in human smuggling into Iran.

The provincial government has written to the Centre to hold the next meeting in Quetta of the task force which has been constituted to check human trafficking and drug smuggling.

This issue will also be taken up in a meeting of the Pakistan-Iran border commission, added the chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2012.