‘Govt to move against anti-state elements’

Firdous Ashiq Awan says action will be taken against anti-state elements challenging country's sovereignty.

QUETTA: The government will take strict action against anti-state elements who are challenging the country’s sovereignty, federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Wednesday. Defending the interior minister’s statement about the use of force in Balochistan, she urged the people not to be scared of such an action and said that the media had projected Rehman Malik’s statement from a “different angle”.

“Baloch people are not agents of RAW (Indian intelligence agency). We will not deny them flood relief and other help,” she said, adding: “The federal government will not abandon Balochistan and will utilise all available resources to address the province’s problems,” she said, adding that she had come to express solidarity with the local people and to distribute relief goods.

“The population in the 13 worst-affected districts is scattered, increasing the urgency to accelerate relief efforts. The government will not let a sense of deprivation prevail in Balochistan,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2010.