Balochistan insurgency: Provincial panel orders ‘tough’ action

Rs50 million set aside to woo reconcilable militants.

QUETTA:

A top provincial committee has ordered tough, targeted and indiscriminate action against militants to improve the law and order across the troubled province.

The Provincial Apex Committee was formed late last year on the recommendation of the federal cabinet’s panel on Balochistan to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to law and order matters.

The high-powered committee comprises the governor, corps commander, Frontier Corps and police chiefs, and chief secretary.

In Wednesday’s meeting, the committee called for better coordination and cooperation among the law-enforcement agencies in order to ensure peace in the volatile province.

The committee was told that the government has set aside Rs50 million for the rehabilitation of reconcilable insurgents. Of this amount, Rs5.5 million has already been released and will be given as a stipend to militants who renounce violence and end ties with banned outfits.

The committee observed that there were only 88 missing persons in the province and efforts to locate them were ongoing, according to a handout.

The committee was also told that there has been a marked decline in the kidnapping-for-ransom cases and security forces had launched targeted operations against anti-social elements. It also appealed to the ulema to play a part to ensure sectarian harmony in
the province.



Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, who chaired the meeting, said that the families of the Quetta blast victims were being given compensation and the process had already started.

The committee reviewed the security situation at prisons across Balochistan and decided to boost security to pre-empt terrorist attacks.

The committee was briefed on the role and functioning of the Balochistan Levies and Balochistan Constabulary and the governor ordered both forces to be more efficient and effective in maintaining public order.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2013.