Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has stated that no one would be allowed to challenge the state’s writ. He said that as the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) begins, protestors have focused their attention on Gwadar, implying that the Baloch Raaji Muchi is intended to disrupt the ongoing CPEC projects.
Bugti accused the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) of planning a bomb explosion at the upcoming Baloch Raaji Muchi in Gwadar. He alleged that some individuals were acting as ‘mouthpieces for saboteurs’ and emphasized that there is no room for violence or efforts to weaken Pakistan.
The Chief Minister claimed that those responsible for the attack on Maulana Muhammad Siddique in Khuzdar had been arrested by police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). He also announced the arrest of several individuals involved in the murder of Aslam Umrani.
Bugti acknowledged that crimes were rising in Balochistan due to a perceived decline in governmental authority but assured that efforts to enhance police and levies’ capabilities would address these issues. He accused external intelligence agencies of waging an intelligence war against Pakistan and Balochistan, targeting security forces, Punjabis, and mine owners through abductions and extortion.
He condemned the use of social media to create discord between law enforcement agencies, the military, the government, and the public. He pointed out that 28,000 Baloch individuals are currently serving in the Pakistani military, emphasizing that the military is not separate from the Baloch people.
Bugti criticized what he called attempts to incite violence through social media, alleging that some individuals were sent to the streets as voices for ‘troublemakers’, provoking the police and the government. He asserted that while everyone has the constitutional right to protest, the government has designated Hockey Chowk in Quetta for such activities and expects protestors to use this location.
Regarding the Baloch Raaji Muchi scheduled for July 28, Bugti noted that Gwadar was chosen instead of Quetta due to the start of the second phase of CPEC. He mentioned that the government tried to negotiate with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) to relocate their gathering to Turbat, but they refused.
Bugti said that the government would provide security for the BYC’s protest but warned that any attempt to challenge state authority or incite violence would not be tolerated. He emphasized the state’s responsibility to maintain its authority and take action against those attempting to weaken Pakistan.
Bugti’s assurances of providing security for the Baloch Raaji Muchi have raised eyebrows among the BYC organizers and the general public alike. As the gathering approaches, the Balochistan government is taking various measures to prevent the it. These include shutting down internet services in Gwadar and Turbat, and enforcing roadblocks on main highways to disrupt travel to the event. Police have conducted raids in multiple districts, resulting in numerous arrests of BYC members and supporters.
Security forces have been extensively deployed, and Section 144 has been enforced to prohibit gatherings and protests in Quetta’s Red Zone. Instances of enforced disappearances have been reported, with key figures like Jeeyand Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch Students Organization, being detained. These actions highlight the government’s determination to suppress the Baloch Raaji Muchi, which the BYC has condemned, urging the Baloch people to resist and support the gathering despite the state’s crackdown.