Balochistan CM to negotiate with armed outfits for peace

Says he has ordered the removal of unnecessary check posts that are promoting violence.

QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch on Monday said that the provincial government will talk to the armed outfits after Eid so that peace could be restored in the province.

Addressing the Balochistan Assembly, he said that a committee has been formed for the purpose.

"The Parliamentary Committee is making efforts to bring the militants back on the negotiation table," he said.

Addressing the Balochistan Assembly, Baloch said that he had ordered the removal of all "unnecessary check posts" of the security forces throughout the province, which he claimed was responsible for promoting crime instead of curbing it.

The chief minister added that the deteriorating law and order situation in the province was a cause for concern. He reiterated that strict action will be taken against anyone who breaks the law, particularly if the law was violated by law enforcers themselves.

On the rehabilitation of refugees from Dera Bugti, Baloch said that they were being rehabilitated.

Power Crisis

The Balochistan chief minister said that the Khuzdar Dadu Transmission Line is expected to be completed in the next two months which would improve power supply to parts of central Balochistan.

He said that his meeting with the Iranian Ambassador in Islamabad had confirmed that Iran is willing to provide 1000MW of electricity at a price that would cost even less than the electricity supplied by WAPDA.

Leader of Opposition Maulana Abdul Wasey said that many power pylons in the province were severely damaged and were having an adverse effect on the agriculture sector of the province.

He also dilated on the worsening security situation of the province.

Balochistan National Party (BNA) MPA Rehmat Baloch said that Mekran Division is receiving 75 MW of electricity from Iran even though the requirement of the entire division is 65MW.

He pointed out that despite the surplus electricity, the division was still suffering long bouts of load shedding.

He then staged a walk out against the alleged discrimination of QESCO against the Mekran community.