ISLAMABAD: The issue of missing persons in Balochistan was being unnecessarily played up to malign Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the Senate on Saturday.
“In total, 2,390 people were suspected to be abducted, out of which addresses of 135 were incomplete, particulars of 241 were incorrect and 31 among them were working in the Middle East,” Malik said presenting the data on missing persons. “We scrutinised each and every case and found 32 people in jails. Today, there are only 36 cases of missing persons in Balochistan.”
He added that much hue and cry was made about Balochistan to create an impression that the government has failed, although the number of missing persons in the province was lesser than others. “The federal and provincial governments are working efficiently.”
“We all love Pakistan except for those enemies who are killing our innocent citizens and security personnel,” Malik said in what has fast become his best answer to explain the situation in Pakistan.
Presenting a clear picture of the estranged Baloch youth, Malik called them patriots before reaching out to them, enticing them to return home with promises of jobs.
He said the Baloch people wanted to live with Pakistan.
Referring to the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package and other initiatives launched in the province to assist the Baloch people, Malik said that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led coalition government was doing what was demanded by late Nawab Akbar Bugti and that all necessary steps would be taken for the prosperity of the province.
Malik also informed the media about the cabinet's committee on Balochistan’s upcoming visit to the province on Tuesday.
He said that no operation would be conducted in the province, however, those involved in disrupting the peace would not be spared.
Malik claimed that some Gilgit residents were trained to launch subvertive activities in Balochistan and Karachi but “I warn them that we are determined to foil their bids. We have the blueprints prepared to create unrest in Chitral and fuel Shia-Sunni confrontation.”
The minister added that measures were being taken at all levels to curb terrorism and that agencies should not be blamed for the killings in Balochistan.
Also sharing a ‘facts book’ with the media, containing details of terrorist incidents conducted by militant organizations during the current year, Malik said that all the attacks were claimed by organizations, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other terrorist groups.
"We have complete details, regarding activities of BLA and other terrorist groups."
The Balochistan-Lyari nexus
Commenting on the unrest in Karachi, Malik said that it was all part of a planned conspiracy and pointed towards the connections between criminal elements operating in Balochistan and those in Lyari.
Malik said the arrangement between the elements worked as the elements in Balochistan facilitated the transport of hostages abducted in Karachi to Afghanistan through Hub.
He also mentioned Indian involvement in operations of Abu Jundal in Karachi and said that the Indian Interior Minister had admitted that Jundal was trained in India.
The Taliban tax
Trade with Afghanistan could come under further stress after Malik revealed on Saturday that the Taliban charge Rs5,000 toll for each truck travelling into Afghanistan.
He added that warlords in Balochistan received a five per cent cut from the $6 billion drug peddling money train.
Brahamdagh’s Afghan passport
Malik presented documents to the Senate proving issuance of passports to Harbyar and Brahamdagh Bugti by the Afghan government.
“Brahamdagh was issued a passport on the presidential orders with the name Firdous. He traveled to Geneva under the name of Ibrahim Rehan, while another Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) activist Riaz Gul traveled to other countries under the name of Ahmed Javed. Gul also traveled to India and is also a killing machine having support of India and Afghanistan,” Malik said.
He said that the Afghan government had also issued another letter containing directives to provide 500 AKs to insurgents in Dera Bugti as well as sniper rifles to militants in Balochistan for targeting politicians, army personnel and ISI officers. “It was a big plan to destabilise Balochistan,” Malik said of the discovery.
Baloch Republican Party has no militant wing: Brahamdagh
The minister also welcomed a statement by Brahamdagh wherein he said that the Baloch Republican Party had no militant wing.
"Now Brahamdagh should disown his deputy, who is operating from Kandahar and is involved in militant activities in Balochistan.We are willing to extend a hand of friendship to his deputy also, if he wants to return home," Malik said, adding that he had also briefed the prime minister about Brahamdagh’s statement.
Malik further said that Brahamdagh had a soft corner for Pakistan,which was a good sign.
He also appealed to Nawab Attaullah Mengal and his son Akhtar Mengal to join the dialogue process, pledging that their reservations would be addressed.
COMMENTS (21)
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I hope government had been more thoughtful.
Rehman Malik doesn't have credibility in south of Pakistan-Sindh and Balochistan.
His comments sounded highly patronizing the least albeit outright threatening. He spoke the language not belonging to a liberal party but an extreme minority fringe from the north who wants to control rest of Pakistan. Otherwise, North is full of people who are trusted in the South.
May be that particular extreme of micro-nationalist of North who mirror their counterparts in Sindh and Balochistan are un-familiar with reconciliation,pluralism and co-existence.
Khalid
Maligning Pakistan seems liekan Olympian Sport ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Gold medal aspirants invited.
He also mentioned Indian involvement in operations of Abu Jundal in Karachi and said that the Indian Interior Minister had admitted that Jundal was trained in India.
Abu Jundal has also mentioned about how 10 terrorists sent to Bombay were guided from control center in Karachi. He also mentioned who also was there. Abu Jundal also confirmed 35 Sikhs were killed by LeT terrorists wearing Indian army uniform.
Pakistan issued a Pakistani passport , 2 ID cards and a overseas Pakistani card to Abu Jundla.
Pakistan also requested Saudi arabia to deport Abu Jubdal to Pakistan.
@BLing BLing: Well, Mr Malik, find the missing persons and no one will be able to malign Pakistan.
Most of missing person even may not be in this world.
Just wondering if this guy know math:
"In total, 2,390 people were suspected to be abducted, out of which addresses of 135 were incomplete, particulars of 241 were incorrect and 31 among them were working in the Middle East,” Malik said presenting the data on missing persons. “We scrutinised each and every case and found 32 people in jails."
How do you start with 2390 and end up with 32. 2390-135-241-31 is clearly not 32, am I missing something or Mr.Malik failed math in school
Do I need to worry now? Mr. Rehman Malik has taken notice of the missing persons now...
Mr. Malik then why Senator Lashkar Raisani left the ruling party and refused to meet with you. Remember God is watching and His revenge is very severe.
Typical Rehman Malik speech, (again)! "This is another attempt by (Fill in the blank) to malign the good name of Pakistan"! I wonder if he has the major TV news crews on his mobile speed dial?
Yes we should not paly it at all to protect the responsible. Just like we are quiet about the presence of OBL in Pakistan. Let us keep every atrocity against civilian under the rug.
Mr. M. Hassan very rightly said If Pakistan has leaders like rehman Malik no one else is required to Malign it.
Every piece of information shared by rehman Malik is incorrect because Human rights organizations, Baloch missing persons Group and Supreme court of Pakistan have issued figures completely different then what malik is saying, Secondly this information is obviously wrong because its coming out of the mouth of Mr. malik.
Missing persons issue is one of the most serious problems of Pakistan and Balochistan in particular. More than 500 people have been killed and dumped in last 2 years, They were also missing before they were killed. If one follows the newspapers about new cases of missing persons on daily basis then The number of missing persons will be number of times greater than what Mr. malik is claiming.
Whatever Mr. Malik is saying is propaganda, disinformation and subversion from facts. In fact his venomous statements based on propaganda are destroying the hopes for betterment in situation of the country.
Malik Sahib you are quite right, nobody is missing in Pakistan. The fact of the matter is that Aliens are in love with Pakistanis and sometimes they take them to other planets who are reported missing by their relatives.
Is the DG FC sitting your lap? OR
Are you sitting in His?
Please, Sir.
Malik top putting spin on the issue of missing persons. Admit your failure to find them and resign.
Is this man in his senses - what about the 500 missing persons found killed and dumped? there is a limit to dishonesty.
Malik sahib, when Pakistan has leaders like who, why would anyone need to conspire against up?
YOU are the one maligning pakistan. When was the last time you said something that was honest and accurate? Nothing is your responsibility and no persons are missing, right? With leaders like you, who need external enemies???
Well, Mr Malik, find the missing persons and no one will be able to malign Pakistan.
Good to see our officials are finally speaking openly with solid evidence to back them up. I believe people who exaggerate the missing persons issue should be dealt with swiftly. Afghan Government is definitely hostile towards Pakistan and should be treated as such. Now I understand why we need Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan, at least they were not interfering in Pakistan while keeping indian puppets at bay.