Latest news with #SarfarazBugti
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
RAW funding ‘Fitna-e-Hindustan' to destabilise Pakistan: CM Balochistan
Listen to article Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has stated that India's intelligence agency, Reasearch and Analysis Wing (RAW), is sponsoring the terrorist group 'Fitna-e-Hindustan' to destabilise Pakistan. Addressing a key press conference in the provincial capital alongside Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Zahoor Ahmed Buledi and Chief Secretary Balochistan, 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 press 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-tul-Hindustan operatives Shanbay and Rehman Gul were also played for journalists, in which they could be heard exchanging information with their RAW handlers. Read: No power can detach Balochistan from Pakistan: DG ISPR The Chief Minister further said that the terrorists responsible for the killing of innocent children in Khuzdar were acting under the instructions of Fitna-tul-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 CM dismissed reports of enforced disappearances as propaganda, citing higher numbers of voluntary disappearances recorded by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He stressed that the Baloch nation has its own proud traditions and does not endorse such cowardly acts. 'They are not killing Punjabis—they are killing Pakistanis,' he added. He stated there is no need for a major military operation in Balochistan, as the state's policy relies on political dialogue and effective strategy. 'Political negotiations are ongoing, but those who raise arms against the state will face action.' The Chief Minister concluded by saying that the state will thwart every attack by Fitna-tul-Hindustan and will not allow any conspiracy against Pakistan's peace and development to succeed.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Kashish Chaudhary, the first Hindu woman to rise to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in Balochistan?
Kashish Chaudhary, a 25-year-old woman from Noshki, Balochistan, has become the first Hindu woman in the province to be appointed Assistant Commissioner. She passed the Balochistan Public Service Commission exam and pledged to serve women and minorities. Her success reflects a growing trend of Hindu women breaking into Pakistan's public services, including policing and the judiciary. Though challenges remain, particularly in Sindh, stories like hers offer a glimpse of change for the country's largest minority community. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A father's pride Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chief Minister's recognition Part of a growing movement Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A push for education amid challenges A community still pushing forward At just 25 years old, she has made history in one of Pakistan's most underrepresented provinces. Kashish, who belongs to the Hindu minority and comes from the remote town of Noshki in Chagai district, successfully cleared the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination—an achievement that's both personal and Monday, Kashish and her father Girdhari Lal travelled to Quetta to meet Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti. She shared her commitment to improving the lives of women and marginalised communities in the a mid-level trader, could not hide his emotion. 'It is a matter of great pride for me that my daughter has become an assistant commissioner due to her hard work and commitment,' he told said that Kashish had always dreamt of studying and doing something 'for her women'.Her success stands out in a province where both gender and religious identity can present barriers to Minister Sarfaraz Bugti praised her efforts and the significance of her role.'Kashish is a symbol of pride for the nation and Balochistan,' he told added that it was always a proud moment when individuals from minority communities reached key public positions through dedication and hard story is not an isolated one. Across Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and now Balochistan, more Hindu women are entering public service. They are stepping into roles once considered beyond July 2022, Manesh Ropeta made headlines when she became the first Hindu woman to be appointed as a Superintendent of Police in Karachi. She continues to serve in the city Kumari Kohli, a 35-year-old sub-inspector in the Karachi police force and a member of a scheduled caste, also passed the Sindh Public Services Examination 'I also passed the Sindh police Public Services Examination. There are many more Hindu girls out there waiting to educate themselves and become something,' Kohli example is Suman Pawan Bodani. She was first appointed as a civil judge in Shahdadkot in 2019 and is currently serving in women are becoming symbols of resilience in a system that has often left minority communities on the these individual stories offer hope, structural issues persist—especially in Sindh, where most of Pakistan's Hindus Kumar Vankwani, a politician from Sindh, sees a shift in how young Hindu girls are being encouraged to study.'Our young women are doing us proud. We have doctors, civil servants, police officers, etc in Sindh,' he he also raised concerns about the region's long-standing problem of young Hindu girls being abducted and forcibly converted.'Despite being notorious for its problem of underage and young Hindu girls being abducted and converted by Muslim men, Sindh required more educational facilities for the Hindu community to counter such menaces,' Vankwani he believes, is the most effective way form Pakistan's largest minority. According to official figures, there are about 7.5 million Hindus in the country, but the community claims the number is closer to 9 million. Most live in Sindh, although smaller populations are spread across other provinces, including Chaudhary's journey—from a quiet town in Chagai to the halls of power in Quetta—is a milestone. But it is also a reminder that progress often starts with one person daring to imagine appointment may not erase the hurdles, but it gives many the hope to leap over them.(With inputs from PTI)
Express Tribune
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bugti vows action against anti-state employees
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on Thursday vowed strict action against government employees involved in anti-state activities, asserting that there will be no compromise when it comes to national interest. Chairing a high-level meeting in Quetta to review progress on the Provincial Action Plan, CM Bugti said the fight against terrorism and subversive elements is a collective responsibility — not just that of the armed forces. "This war belongs to every citizen who believes in peace and prosperity for Balochistan," he stated. The meeting, attended by Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan and departmental secretaries, included a detailed briefing by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department.
Arab News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Police kill nine militants in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province
QUETTA: Police in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province have killed nine suspected militants in an intelligence-based operation in the Pishin district, the provincial police's counter-terrorism department (CTD) said on Saturday. The militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during a raid in Khanai Baba, a remote area of Pishin district located 55 kilometers from the provincial capital of Quetta, according to the CTD. The TTP, which has been fighting with the Pakistani state since 2007, has stepped up its attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021. Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting anti-Pakistan militant groups, including the TTP, that carry out cross-border attacks in Pakistan. Taliban authorities deny the allegation. 'The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan carried out the raid in Pishin, killing nine terrorists of TTP after an exchange of fire,' the CTD said in a statement. 'Explosives and arms were seized during the operation.' The CTD said the slain militants had been involved in various militant activities in the province, without offering any evidence. Pakistan has been battling twin insurgencies: one led my religiously motivated groups like the TTP, mainly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and the other by ethno-nationalist Baloch separatist groups in Balochistan. The CTD raid followed a roadside blast in Balochistan that killed three paramilitary troops and injured four others in the Marget coalfield area near Quetta on Friday, a local administration official said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on ethnic Baloch separatist militants, who frequently target security forces, Chinese nationals, ethnic Punjabi commuters and laborers in the restive province. The separatists accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province's natural resources, such as gold and copper. Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations and said they only worked for the uplift of the region and its people. Last month, the Baloch Liberation Army separatist group hijacked a train with hundreds of passengers aboard near Balochistan's Bolan Pass, which resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers. At least 33 insurgents were also killed. In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti praised the CTD action against militants in Pishin. 'The intelligence-based operation averted a major tragedy in Balochistan,' he said. 'The law enforcement agencies remain fully determined to completely eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.'
Express Tribune
15-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt skips fuel price cut, redirects funds to Balochistan projects
Listen to article Despite a decline in global oil prices, the federal government has decided not to reduce domestic petroleum rates, choosing instead to allocate the savings to key infrastructure and development projects in Balochistan, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Tuesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a federal cabinet meeting, announced that the funds saved from the global oil price dip would be used to dualise the strategic N-25 Highway — the Chaman–Quetta–Kalat–Khuzdar–Karachi route. 'The initiative is aimed to provide better travel facilities to the people of Balochistan,' the statement read. The prime minister directed that the restoration and expansion of the highway should be carried out to meet full motorway standards. In addition, a portion of the funds will be allocated to complete Phase 2 of the Kachhi Canal, which is expected to irrigate hundreds of acres of agricultural land in Balochistan. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, who attended the cabinet meeting, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sharif for prioritising development in the province, particularly the N-25 project and other long-awaited infrastructure efforts. Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved an amendment to the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) Ordinance, 1961, as recommended by the Petroleum Division. The PMO said the amendment is expected to contribute to boosting national revenue. The decision comes as global oil markets face instability. Brent crude dropped 54 cents to $64.34 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell 57 cents to $60.96, amid lowered demand forecasts from both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA), largely due to escalating trade tensions and fluctuating US tariff policies. In its last price review, the government had marginally reduced petrol prices by Re1 per litre, fixing them at Rs254.63, while keeping High-Speed Diesel (HSD) at Rs258.64 per litre through April 15, as per the Finance Division's notification.
