QUETTA, Oct 28 (APP): Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday vowed to eliminate terrorism from the province and bring those responsible for attacks on innocent civilians to justice, declaring that acts of violence would not weaken the government’s resolve to promote education, peace and development.
Speaking on the security situation in the province, the CM strongly condemned the recent attack at a girls’ college in Nushki, saying that terrorists were attempting to deprive Baloch children, particularly girls, of education and opportunities for progress. He reiterated that the provincial government would neither bow to intimidation nor allow educational institutions to be closed under any circumstances.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that terrorists affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) entered the girls’ college in Nushki and injured three students. Two of the injured girls, who sustained serious wounds, were shifted to Quetta for specialized treatment, while a third student, who suffered minor injuries, was treated in Nushki.
He assured the victims and their families that the government was ensuring the best possible medical care for the injured students.
The CM questioned the motives behind such attacks, asking what purpose was served by targeting innocent female students seeking education. He said attacking and attempting to deprive Baloch girls of learning opportunities could not be justified under any interpretation of Baloch traditions or values.
“Baloch society has always upheld dignity, honor and respect for education, but it has now become evident to the people of the province that these elements want to keep our daughters away from education and push them towards a path of extremism and violence,” he said.
Sarfraz Bugti warned that denying children access to education would make them vulnerable to propaganda designed to turn them against the state. He said terrorist groups sought to exploit uneducated youth for their own agendas and therefore viewed educational institutions as obstacles to their objectives.
Condemning the attack as a cowardly act, the chief minister assured the people of Balochistan, particularly the injured students and their parents, that the government would relentlessly pursue those responsible. He said security forces would track down the perpetrators and ensure that they faced justice.
The CM said the incident should serve as a moment of reflection for intellectuals, academics and civil society members throughout the province. While the government was striving to provide educational opportunities for Baloch students, including access to internationally renowned institutions such as Oxford and Harvard, terrorists were attempting to pull young people away from education and towards violence.
He noted that terrorist groups had previously targeted teachers, professors and academics, and were now extending their attacks to students. Such actions, he added, demonstrated the extent to which these elements had crossed all limits.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti reaffirmed that the Balochistan government, in coordination with the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police, would continue combating terrorism and restoring lasting peace across the province.
Addressing leaders of militant groups by name, he accused them of serving foreign interests and targeting defenseless Baloch girls whose only objective was to receive an education. He said that extremist elements were attempting to indoctrinate young girls through propaganda and persuade them to participate in acts of violence against the state.
The CM added that authorities had previously intercepted and rehabilitated several young girls who had allegedly been influenced by such extremist narratives. While describing the findings as disturbing, he said it would not be appropriate to publicly discuss details of those cases.
Sarfraz Bugti categorically declared that the government would not close any school or college because of terrorist threats. He noted that the provincial administration had already reopened 3,200 previously closed schools and would continue to strengthen educational institutions rather than leave them at the mercy of violent groups.
As a gesture of solidarity with the injured students of Nushki Girls College, he announced that a sports gala would be organized at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), while a separate sports festival would also be held at the same college in Nushki in the names of the injured students.
He said the Department of Sports would organize the events to honor the courage and resilience of the young girls and to send a clear message to terrorists that their efforts to disrupt education would fail.
“These activities will demonstrate that no amount of violence can force the government to close schools and colleges. We will keep our educational institutions thriving and ensure that the streets of Balochistan remain vibrant with life and constructive activities,” he said.
The CM further revealed that security forces had been conducting sustained operations against terrorist hideouts in remote mountainous areas and other locations over recent days, making significant sacrifices in the process.
He vowed that militants would be eliminated from both urban centers and remote regions and that operations would continue until terrorism was fully eradicated.
Sarfraz Bugti reiterated that the state remained ready to dialogue with individuals willing to operate within the framework of Pakistan’s Constitution and laws. He emphasized that those seeking to present their views through peaceful and democratic means would always find the doors of the state open.
Questioning the double standards of militant leaders, he asked whether Baloch girls studying in institutions such as Nushki Girls College did not deserve the same opportunities as children of militant commanders studying abroad.
The CM emphasized that his government would continue investing in education, awareness, youth development and economic opportunities. He said employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood programs, along with the provincial youth policy, would remain focused on empowering the younger generation.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that such brutal attacks only strengthened the government’s determination to defeat terrorism and transform Balochistan into a peaceful and prosperous province. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working alongside security forces to establish enduring peace and stability throughout the province.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
