Latest news with #MirSarfarazBugti
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
RAW funding Fitna al Hindustan: Bugti
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has stated that India's intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is sponsoring the terrorist group "Fitna al Hindustan" to destabilise Pakistan. Addressing a news conference in the provincial capital alongside Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Zahoor Ahmed Buledi and Balochistan Chief Secretary, the chief minister said that India's intelligence agency RAW is actively supporting terrorist groups to destabilise peace in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan. He added that the group was "purely terrorist" and has no connection to the Baloch people or the province of Balochistan. During the news conference, misleading reports by Indian media were also shown, including false claims about Karachi Port amid recent tensions between Pakistan and India. Audio recordings of Fitna al Hindustan operatives Shanbay and Rehman Gul were also played for journalists, in which they could be heard exchanging information with their RAW handlers. The chief minister further said that the terrorists responsible for the killing of innocent children in Khuzdar were acting under the instructions of Fitna al Hindustan, with funding and directives provided by RAW. "These terrorists are not representatives of the Baloch people; they are merely tools of RAW." "India cannot tolerate Pakistan's growing economy and aims to harm us through proxy warfare," he said. The chief minister dismissed reports of enforced disappearances.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Balochistan panel to discuss budget plan
In a move aimed at making the upcoming provincial budget more responsive to public needs, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has constituted a parliamentary committee to consult on the financial plan for the next fiscal year. The committee, which he will head himself, includes senior members from coalition parties and is expected to engage in meaningful discussions with the federal government on budget-related matters and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Key political figures such as Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, Noor Muhammad Dummar, Nawabzada Tariq Khan Magsi, Engineer Zamarak Khan Achakzai, and Engineer Abdul Majeed Badini are part of this high-level team.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IS claims bomb blast martyring three cops
"Jihadi John" was known as the executioner of the Islamic State group appearing masked in a string of videos showing the beheadings of Western hostages PHOTO: AFP The Islamic State group has claimed a bomb explosion targeting police in Pakistan's southwest that martyred three policemen and wounded more than a dozen. A bomb planted on a parked motorcycle on Tuesday targeted a passing bus carrying 40 policemen in Mastung, Balochistan, where security forces have been battling violence for decades. In a statement late Tuesday, the group's regional branch, Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), which often carries out attacks on security forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan, claimed its "soldiers" targeted the police. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the bombing and expressed profound grief over the loss of precious lives.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Bugti welcomes Balochistan project funding via POL levy
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the federal government for allocating funds for the dualization of a main highway in Balochistan and the Kachhi Canal project. He was addressing a news conference in Islamabad alongside Federal Ministers Jam Kamal and Khalid Magsi. The chief minister said that this financial support is a goodwill gesture for the people of Balochistan, as the money comes from the national exchequer and belongs to every Pakistani. He noted that the dualization of the N-25 highway, linking Chaman, Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar and Karachi, will significantly improve transportation and provide a safe, international-standard road facility to the public. Highlighting the importance of the Kachhi Canal Project, he said its completion will mark the beginning of an agricultural revolution in the province by ensuring irrigation for vast areas of farmland. Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan lauded the prime minister's decision, stating that such initiatives offer a new vision for the youth of Balochistan, enabling them to contribute to the nation's progress and prosperity. Minister for Science and Technology, Khalid Hussain Magsi also expressed confidence in the quality of the projects being implemented. He thanked the prime minister for announcing an additional 10 percent quota for Baloch students in the agriculture graduates program in China. Responding to a question, Chief Minister Bugti said that improving the security situation in Balochistan remains the top priority.
Express Tribune
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Balochistan bans night-time travel on key highways
The Balochistan government on Sunday imposed ban on night-time travel on key national highways in the province amid rising incidents of terrorism on the main roads in the recent weeks. The decision, which has been enforced through notifications issued by various deputy commissioners, prohibited travel from 6pm to 6am on major routes in Kachhi, Noshki, Musa Khel, Gwadar, and Zhob districts. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting, chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti. The meeting also decided to further expand the security forces' operations against terrorists. The meeting was attended by high officials, including the chief secretary, additional chief secretary home and the inspector general of the Police (IGP). The participants reviewed the security plan for Eid. The participants were given a detailed briefing on the overall law and order situation of the province, particularly the situation of national highways. The meeting appreciated the successful operation of the security forces in Kalat. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to take effective measures in coordination with all the security agencies to restore peace in the province. Meanwhile, the government stopped public transport from travelling on the national highways from 6 pm to 6am. The deputy commissioners of Kachhi, Musakhel, Zhob, Panjgur, Gwadar, and Noshki issued notifications in this regard. Accordingly, travel will not be allowed on Sibi Highway, Zhob-DI Khan Highway, Coastal Highway, Quetta-Taftan Highway, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Highway. Last night, transport from Quetta to Taftan was stopped in Noshki. According to the provincial Home Department, all transport going from Quetta to Karachi will depart between 6 am and 1 pm, while the transport from Gwadar to Karachi and Quetta will start journey between 5am to 10 am, so that the passengers can reach their destinations before sunset. The move comes after multiple incidents, including a suicide bombing near a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally at Lak Pass in Mastung. Earlier, terrorists killed passengers after pulling them out of the buses on multiple occasions. The security situation deteriorated in the province with an attack on the Jaffar Express by the terrorists affiliated with the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) earlier this month. The travel curbs came as the federal government threw its weight behind the Khyber-Pakhtunkhw (K-P) and Balochistan governments in the wake of rising terrorist attacks. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired the second meeting of the counterterrorism committee on Saturday to review the progress on enhancing the capacity of counter-terrorism departments in the provinces. The meeting was briefed that the approval for the establishment of the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres had been granted, and work was ongoing to set up the centres at the provincial level. The meeting also agreed to make explosive materials a federal subject to ensure effective monitoring. Furthermore, it was decided to effectively raise the issue of terrorism with the Afghan government through the Foreign Ministry. Naqvi told the meeting that the prime minister, the army chief and all the stakeholders were on the same page in combating terrorism. He emphasised that no decision would be taken without consulting the provinces. The minister stated that it is essential to fully activate the counterterrorism departments at the provincial level for an effective response, and in this regard, all possible assistance would be provided to K-P and Balochistan.
