QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has warned owners of vineyards and other private properties in Mastung that they could be declared facilitators if militants use their land to carry out attacks against security forces or government officials.
Speaking after inaugurating digital initiatives of the Balochistan Police at the Central Police Office on Friday, Bugti said the government would not tolerate private properties being used for terrorist activities.
He said property owners could not claim ignorance if militants launched attacks from their land, particularly when they had repeatedly been warned about the presence of terrorists.
“If a security forces’ convoy or the home minister is attacked from a vineyard, the owners cannot say they did not know terrorists were present on their land,” Bugti said.
He said the government did not want to take measures that would harm ordinary residents, noting that militants often use civilians as human shields. However, he warned that continued use of private properties for terrorism could force the government to consider relocating residents or removing vineyards being used for attacks.
Bugti said the lives of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel were “extremely sacred” and that the government would not accept a situation in which security personnel were killed in attacks launched from private property.
What action could the government take?
Bugti said authorities had two options if private properties continued to be used for terrorist attacks: large-scale relocation and resettlement of residents, or elimination of vineyards being used for terrorism.
The chief minister said the government would continue efforts to strengthen policing and counterterrorism capabilities across the province.
He also announced the launch and upgrading of 16 digital applications aimed at improving access to police and criminal justice services. Eight existing applications were upgraded while eight new applications were introduced.
A women’s safety application was among the new initiatives. It allows users to trigger an emergency alert with a single click and notify their parents and police. Bugti said an awareness campaign would be launched for female students, working women and travellers.
The applications also include services related to Khidmat Markaz, hotels, travelling and the IGP Police Complaint Cell.
How much funding has been allocated for police digitalisation?
Bugti announced Rs5 million in cash rewards for police officers and personnel involved in developing the digital initiatives and allocated Rs50 million for further police digitalisation during the current year.
He said digital facilities for families of police martyrs would help authorities maintain direct contact with them, identify their needs and improve welfare services.
The chief minister said CCTV and Safe City cameras had helped investigators trace suspects in several cases and assisted law-enforcement agencies in arrests following terrorist attacks. He said the government had established a Safe City Authority and enacted the relevant legislation.
Bugti also said salaries of personnel serving in the Fighting Force, Anti-Terrorist Force, Counter Terrorism Department and Special Operations Wing had been increased, while further steps were being considered to improve police salaries in line with inflation.
On recruitment, he said an error had been identified in the tehsildar recruitment process. A committee working with the Public Service Commission would investigate the matter and submit its report within seven to 10 days, after which the findings would be made public.
Bugti reiterated that the provincial government’s recruitment policy was based on merit and said political considerations would not be allowed to influence appointments.