Soldier martyred in Gwadar as ‘mob attacks’ security forces

RAWALPINDI: A soldier was martyred as violent mob assaulted security forces employed for security duties in Gwadar district on Monday. A violent mob in garb of so-called Baloch Raji Muchi assaulted security forces’ personnel employed for security duties in Gwadar district and resultantly, a 30-year old Sepoy Shabbir Baloch of District Sibi was martyred, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said.

In addition, the unprovoked assaults by the violent protesters have resulted in injuries to sixteen soldiers including an officer. While on the other hand, fake and malicious propaganda is being spread on social media using doctored pictures and videos by the propagandists to gain sympathy and support for the unlawful violent march.

Security forces have displayed extreme restraint to avoid unwarranted civilian casualties despite provocations. The ISPR statement maintained the violent actions of the mob are unacceptable and those responsible will be brought to justice. All citizens are urged not to fall prey to the propaganda, remain calm and peaceful, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in maintaining public safety and order.

The ISPR said the security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts of sabotaging peace and stability of Balochistan. Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has authorised members of the opposition in Balochistan Assembly to hold talks with Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on behalf of the government.

Addressing the assembly session, he said that the government believes in dialogue to solve the issues and asked the opposition members to play their vital role in the current situation.

He offered, “Our doors are always open for those who agree to set on table with us for any kind of talks in order to maintain peace in the province.” Sarfraz Bugti said that the state would ensure all rights including right to assemble to the people on a condition to accept the right to be organised.

Sarfraz Bugti said the government had held negotiations multiple times to convince the BYC to organise gathering at Turbat instead of Gwadar. He added that the BYC was decided to hold rally in Gwadar with clear intentions to sabotage the CPEC, development works and malign the country internationally.

The chief minister said foreign delegations are to visit Gwadar in August as the second phase of CPEC is to begin and the government granted the permission to organise the gathering at GDA stadium.

Sarfraz Bugti said the government cannot give the authority to run the government affairs in the hand of Jehtha and would not allow anyone to chock the government machinery and stop the development process in the province.

Sarfraz Bugti said that intelligence driven war is being run against the country and the province. He said that there is conspiracy against Pakistan, one group is using violence in Balochistan and another group is defaming the state institutions through social media.

He said that some miscreant organisations are doing social maneuvering and creating space between the youth and the state institutions. He said terrorists were involved in the killing of over 4,000 innocent people.

Sarfraz Bugti said that the digital terrorists spreading fake propaganda as they want to create space among the state institutions and public and anti-state elements would not succeed in their nefarious designs.

He said that the government would not use force against the peaceful citizens and would inspire them with good governance. Bugti said that holding a peaceful protest is the right of every one and the government would also facilitate the protest if it held peacefully and would not give permission of blocking the roads.

The chief minister said that the government would, of course, take action to discourage the mob mentality and could not give control in the hands of any Jahtha. He said the government cannot accept the arbitrariness of a group challenging the state writ.

Sarfraz Bugti said he would not compromise on the country’s interest, adding that Balochistan cannot afford violence any more. He said, “We do not believe in revenge as strengthening democracy is the best solution to issues.”

He said that implementing the rules in the interest of the common man and in the national interest is a constitutional responsibility of the government. He added that some people want the politics of dead bodies, but they will not give anyone a chance to do politics on dead bodies. There will be no compromise on the writ of the state, he added.

Sarfraz said, “The people of Balochistan have understood that the development of Balochistan is with Pakistan, when a president of the country is Baloch, then where Baloch can get better rights than this.”

Meanwhile, protesters brought Gwadar to a standstill igniting clashes in which a soldier and a demonstrator were killed, authorities said. A government official in Gwadar told AFP on condition of anonymity that attempts by people to bypass roadblocks and join the protest led to clashes.

“One civilian protester, a shopkeeper in Gwadar, was killed in the clash,” the official said, adding that the man was killed on Sunday. A day after the BYC held a sit-in protest in Gwadar, BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch issued a video message in a post on X [formerly Twitter] on Monday evening, saying: “In just three days, around one thousand of our comrades have been arrested and we have no idea [of their whereabouts]. It has been four days now that the network [communications and the internet] is blocked in Gwadar and there is a curfew in place here.

She said the FC and the police, instead of negotiating with the peaceful sit-in, ended up beating participants present there. If any member or participant of the BYC is harmed, the responsibility for that is with the state and the government of Balochistan on whose orders peaceful protesters faced violence.