Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti says owners could be treated as facilitators if militants use private properties to attack security forces or government officials.
QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has warned owners of vineyards and other private properties in Mastung that they could face action if militants use their land to carry out attacks against security personnel or government officials.
Speaking after the inauguration of new digital initiatives by the Balochistan Police at the Central Police Office, Bugti said the government did not want to take measures that would unnecessarily affect ordinary citizens. However, he stressed that private property could not be allowed to become a launching point for terrorist attacks.
Property Owners Could Be Considered Facilitators
According to the chief minister, militants sometimes use civilian areas and properties as cover, making it difficult for security forces to conduct operations without putting innocent people at risk.
Bugti said property owners could not simply claim they were unaware if terrorists repeatedly used their land to launch attacks.
He gave the example of an attack on a security forces’ convoy or the home minister from a vineyard, saying the owner could not deny responsibility by claiming ignorance about the presence of militants on the property.
He warned that anyone whose private property was knowingly used for terrorist activities would be considered a facilitator.
Bugti said vineyard owners had already been repeatedly warned. If private properties continued to be used for attacks, he said the government could consider relocating residents from affected areas or taking action against vineyards being used for terrorism.
Security Personnel Sacrifices Highlighted
The chief minister described the lives of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel as highly valuable, saying it was unacceptable for security officials to lose their lives while private properties were being used for militant activities.
He stressed that the government would not tolerate such a situation and would take measures to prevent private land from being exploited for attacks.
Balochistan Police Moves Towards Digitalisation
During the event, Bugti also highlighted the provincial government’s efforts to modernise the police through digital technology.
He said eight existing Balochistan Police applications had been upgraded, while eight new applications were introduced to improve access to criminal justice services and help citizens resolve routine complaints.
Balochistan Inspector General of Police Muhammad Tahir Khan briefed the chief minister about the 16 digital applications. Bugti praised the police IT team and other officers involved in developing the system.
The initiatives include facilities related to Khidmat Markaz, hotels and travel services, as well as the IGP Police Complaint Cell.
Women’s Safety App Introduced
A dedicated women’s safety application has also been launched. According to Bugti, the app allows women to send an emergency alert with a single click, notifying both their families and the police.
The chief minister said an awareness campaign would be launched to familiarise women with the facility, particularly female students, working women and those travelling.
He said the digital system was intended to make it easier for citizens to seek police assistance when they face harassment or emergencies.
Rs50 Million Allocated for Police Digitalisation
Bugti announced Rs5 million in cash rewards for officers and personnel who contributed to the digitalisation initiatives. He also announced Rs50 million for further digitalisation of the Balochistan Police during the current year.
He thanked the Punjab government and Punjab Police for assisting Balochistan with digitalisation efforts, saying the province was willing to learn from successful initiatives elsewhere in Pakistan.
He added that Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan had also sought assistance with Balochistan’s merit-based Artificial Intelligence Testing System.
Focus on Police Welfare and Modernisation
The chief minister said the provincial government was also taking steps to improve police salaries in line with inflation. Salaries of personnel serving in the Fighting Force, Anti-Terrorist Force, Counter Terrorism Department and Special Operations Wing had already been increased, he said.
Bugti acknowledged that adapting the policing system to new requirements following Balochistan’s designation as an A Area would take time. However, he said the government wanted to build a stronger and more empowered police service capable of dealing effectively with terrorism and crime.
He expressed hope that Balochistan Police could become one of Pakistan’s leading police services within the next three to four years.
Digital Complaint System and Safe City Network
Bugti said complaints submitted through the IGP Police Complaint Portal immediately appear on screens at the IGP Control Centre. Relevant officers are assigned the complaints, deadlines are set and progress is monitored digitally.
He also credited CCTV and Safe City cameras with helping investigators trace suspects in cases involving the killings of traders in Quetta and Dr Mahnoor. According to the chief minister, the Safe City system had also contributed to arrests following major terrorist attacks.
The government has established a Safe City Authority and completed the relevant legislation, he said. The authority has been integrated with law-enforcement agencies, while further improvements to the technology and monitoring systems are planned.
Merit Policy to Remain Unchanged
On recruitment, Bugti said an internal error had been identified in the tehsildar recruitment process. A committee, formed in coordination with the Public Service Commission, would investigate the matter and submit its report within seven to 10 days. The findings would subsequently be made public, he said.
Bugti reiterated that the provincial government would maintain a merit-based recruitment policy, even if doing so resulted in political costs.
He cited recent recruitment by the Balochistan Revenue Authority as an example, saying around 20 to 25 people from his constituency had applied but none had been selected.
The chief minister said that, as an elected representative, he could have attempted to help candidates from his constituency, but chose not to interfere with the process. According to Bugti, the example demonstrated that government recruitment was being conducted on merit.
He said merit-based opportunities were important for rebuilding young people’s trust in state institutions and countering attempts to distance the younger generation from the state through propaganda.
