QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has called for dialogue, education and democratic engagement to address the province’s longstanding challenges, saying there is no justification for violence over political differences or a sense of deprivation.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Lahore, he reaffirmed his commitment to Pakistan, declaring, “Our loyalty to Pakistan is unconditional.”
He said the people of Balochistan were equal citizens of the country and that their genuine grievances, development needs and sense of deprivation must be understood and addressed.
Bugti identified three major challenges facing the province: narratives used to justify violence, armed terrorism and attempts to influence young people’s thinking through social media.
He said certain quarters were spreading confusion and misleading narratives under the pretext of highlighting Balochistan’s grievances and the genuine problems faced by its people.
The chief minister maintained that poverty, underdevelopment and deprivation could not be used to justify or support separatist violence.
He also urged commentators and analysts discussing the situation in Balochistan to base their assessments on facts and avoid promoting narratives that could make violence appear acceptable.
He stressed that the province’s problems could only be resolved through education, dialogue, political engagement and democratic practices.
