ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar on Wednesday rejected the notion that the government was making half-hearted efforts for development in Balochistan.

Talking to reporters after a special two-hour meeting, he said a sub-committee of the cabinet would soon complete a report regarding the Balochistan issue for the consideration of cabinet in its next meeting.
Answering a question, the minister said the government had implemented the Balochistan package in the letter and spirit, adding that the sub-committee of cabinet on Balochistan would seek assessment of the trickle down impact of its policies. “However, far-reaching and result -oriented decisions would be evolved, which were to augur positive effects for the Federation”, he asserted.
Answering another question, he said the government was already in touch with the dissident Baloch chieftains and would divulge any details at an opportune moment.
He said situation in Balochistan would not change without resolution of the missing persons issue, adding that the government had already announced public clemency for dissidents and miscreants.
Monitoring Desk adds: The Interior Ministry on Wednesday submitted a special report to the Federal Cabinet over the prevailing law and order situation in Balochistan, reported a private TV channel.
According to the report, at least 868 people have been killed, 619 kidnapped, and 2,390 have gone missing from the province since 2010. The meeting of the cabinet’s special committee on Balochistan was headed by Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.
The report claimed that Laskar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ), Lashkar-i-Balochistan, Baloch Musalla Difa Tanzeem, and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) were involved in disrupting the law and order situation of the province. “Afghan refugees in Balochistan are also responsible for the unrest,” the report added.
Speaking to media representatives after the meeting, the committee chairman Naveed Qamar said that committee’s meeting would be held on a daily basis so that recommendations could be sent to the cabinet session. Qamar said that the committee would also visit Balochistan in the coming days to meet with Baloch elders, political leaders and all the stakeholders.
The committee had already received briefing from the Inspector General (IG) Frontier Corps (FC), Balochistan chief secretary, intelligence agencies and ministries of Defence, Foreign and Interior.