Tag: Balochistan

  • Balochistan Chief Minister says he will not use bulletproof cars anymore

    Balochistan Chief Minister says he will not use bulletproof cars anymore

    Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has refused to utilise bulletproof and bombproof vehicles for his own personal use.

    Bizenjo has also declared that no one in his government will get VIP treatment, prohibiting his cabinet and senior officers from using any of these vehicles.

    The decision took place in the backdrop of multiple provincial security forces recently losing their lives in terrorist attacks.

    “In many incidents, security duty officers were targeted by terrorists but we [civilians] use our own bulletproof vehicle,” Balochistan CM said.

    It is pertinent to mention that Balochistan is the most vulnerable province of Pakistan in terms of man-made disasters especially terrorism and civil unrest.

  • PM Shehbaz congratulates ISI for arresting BNA founder

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Agency for carrying out a brilliant operation that resulted in the arrest of Baloch National Army’s (BNA) founder, Gulzar Imam alias Shambay.

    Taking to Twitter, the premier wrote, “This operation speaks of outstanding professionalism of our institutions. The arrest will help suppress militancy in Balochistan & usher in a new era of peace.”

    The ‘high-value target’ has been a “hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit BNA which came into being after the amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)”, read a statement released by the military media wing,  Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    ISPR elaborated that the BNA has been responsible for many violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including attacks on installations of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Panjgur and Noshki.

    ISPR further stated that the “apprehension of a militant leader of this stature demonstrates the capability and resolve of LEAs to uproot the menace of terrorism,” emphasizing that it speaks volumes about the successes garnered through supreme sacrifices of unsung heroes.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the government and the nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country with a new resolve, determination and valour.

  • Motorcycle dealers reportedly demanding Rs40,000 extra for instant delivery of Honda CG125

    Motorcycle dealers reportedly demanding Rs40,000 extra for instant delivery of Honda CG125

    The market for new and used motorcycles in Akbar Road, Karachi, which is the largest in the country, is experiencing a shortage of Honda CG-125 bikes at the showrooms of the company’s authorised dealers. The dealers are reportedly not accepting fresh bookings from customers due to thin supplies from the assembler.

    Non-Honda dealers are reportedly demanding a price of Rs252,000-255,000 for instant delivery of the CG-125 bike, which is Rs40,000 more than the company’s price of Rs215,000, despite not having the bike available in their showrooms.

    Some unauthorised dealers have already acquired a large number of CG-125 motorcycles from authorized dealers, apparently under an understanding to jointly make a windfall. Some dealers have cited Afghan nationals accompanied by Pakistanis as the reason for the stock shortage. However, 70cc bikes are readily available for instant delivery at showrooms.

    According to Dawn, market sources have stated that local bike assemblers exported 25,000 units of 70cc-125cc bikes over the past 11 months, in which Honda 125cc holds the lion’s share. They also believe that the actual volume of shipments of two-wheelers is more than the official export by the companies after individual purchases of bikes by customers for Afghan markets.

    Afghan businessmen are importing Pakistan-assembled motorcycles in large numbers daily through the Chaman border amid booming demand for two-wheelers in Afghanistan. The market for Honda CG-125 bikes is experiencing price hikes and shortages across the country, including Quetta and other cities of Balochistan.

  • Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    Constabulary personnel martyred in Balochistan attack

    A bombing has left at least nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) martyred and 13 people wounded in Bolan, Balochistan on Monday morning.

    According to media reports, preliminary evidence suggests that the blast was a suicide attack. However, the exact nature will be disclosed after a thorough investigation.

    So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    BC is a department of the provincial police force that provides security at important events and in sensitive areas, including jails.

    Pakistan is dealing with a rapid rise in terror attacks since talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the attack on Balochistan Constabulary and expressed grief.

    This is a developing story.

  • Basic necessity becomes luxury in Quetta: Flour shortage drives prices up to Rs2,800 per 20kg bag

    Basic necessity becomes luxury in Quetta: Flour shortage drives prices up to Rs2,800 per 20kg bag

    In Balochistan’s capital of Quetta, a shortage of flour has led to skyrocketing prices for 20kg bags of the commodity. According to reports, profiteers are taking advantage of the situation and selling flour bags for between Rs2,640 to Rs2,800 in Quetta and surrounding areas.

    The residents of Quetta are frustrated that they are unable to obtain flour at the government’s fixed rate and are instead forced to pay an excessive price. They are calling on the provincial government to take action against the profiteers and ensure the availability of flour.

    According to ARY News, the President of Flour Mills Association Balochistan, Nasir Agha, has also weighed in on the crisis. He stated that the supply of wheat to the mills has been suspended for the last ten days, and he blamed the incompetence of the Balochistan food department for the current situation.

    With prices for flour continuing to rise, it remains to be seen how the provincial government will respond to the demands of the residents and the Flour Mills Association.

  • Hadiqa Kiani has built 100 homes for flood victims in Balochistan

    Hadiqa Kiani has built 100 homes for flood victims in Balochistan

    After devastating floods wrecked havoc in Sindh and Balochistan in 2022, singer and actor Hadiqa Kiani announced a new initiative ‘Vaseela-E-Rah’ which was set up to provide rehabilitation facilities for flood victims.

    Today, Kiani took to Twitter to proudly share the success of her project, having built over at least a 100 homes, a maternity clinic, grocery store and primary school for children in Balochistan.

    “As many of you know, I have been in Balochistan for the past few days…by the grace of Allah + your support, we have completed the 1st phase of our project. 100 houses are complete and now occupied by flood victims, a maternity clinic, a grocery store and a primary school..”

    The actress further reflected how watching her initiative grow was a blessing, and will continue to put her efforts in providing relief to more flood victims:
    “Coming back to Balochistan & seeing this progress is a blessing and I am so grateful we could play our part. Vaseela-E-Raah was a mission of mine to complete, a promise I made to my mother and to the people of Balochistan, IA we will continue our efforts!”

  • Terror attacks: January 2023 deadliest month since July 2018

    Terror attacks: January 2023 deadliest month since July 2018

    January 2023 has become the deadliest month with the maximum number of terror attacks since July 2018, with 134 people losing their lives in at least 44 militant attacks across Pakistan, data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has shown.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) residents remain in the eye of the storm after two suicide bombings were rocked the province — one in Peshawar and the other one in the tribal district.

    Although the number of terrorist attacks declined slightly in January, fatalities increased by 139 per cent, attributed mostly to the Peshawar Police Lines suicide blast on Monday which resulted in the death of over 100 people.

    The data mentions that KP Police was the primary target of the militants operating in the province bordering Afghanistan.

    Militant attacks declined in Balochistan during January, however, Punjab saw four incidents in which three security forces personnel were killed while two low-profile attacks were reported in Sindh in which one person died.

  • Zardari ka jaadu: Seven Baloch politicians join PPP after meeting him

    Zardari ka jaadu: Seven Baloch politicians join PPP after meeting him

    Seven politicians from Balochistan joined Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after holding a meeting on Sunday with the party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

    The politicians include former provincial ministers Nawabzada Gazin Marri and Tahir Mahmood, coordinator of the Balochistan chief minister Nawabzada Jamal Raisani and Mir Fareed Raisani.

    Other leaders who joined the party included Mir Abdullah Raheja, Mir Allah Bakhsh Rind and former senator and federal minister Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani.

    The PPP co-chairman welcomed the new party members and said Balochistan and PPP have a historical affiliation.

    The PPP is an integral part of Balochistan’s politics and the party will never compromise on its fight for the rights of the Baloch people, Zardari said after the meeting.

    It is pertinent to mention that earlier this month, several leaders of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP)— the leading party in Balochistan— joined the PPP.

    Many media outlets have termed this development as the PPP’s way of having a strong foothold in Balochistan ahead of expected general elections this year.

  • Balochistan Home Minister heads commission for recovering missing persons

    Balochistan Home Minister heads commission for recovering missing persons

    Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau has been appointed as the chairman of a commission that will look into the cases of missing persons.

    The commission will recover and investigate the cases of missing persons, provide legal assistance to the families of missing persons while also looking into the activities of these missing persons against the state.

    Earlier, the Balochistan home ministry formed a parliamentary commission on missing persons on the orders of the Balochistan High Court (BHC).

    It is pertinent to mention that the missing person commission received a total number of 9,133 complaints from the residents of Balochistan alone.

    Apart from this, Supreme Court (SC) was informed that overall 2,207 cases of missing persons are pending as of November 30, 2022.

    Prior to this, former Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah instructed Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to ensure a resolution to the missing persons’ cases.

    The Premier assured the court that all-out efforts would be made to recover missing persons.

  • After Islamabad and Balochistan, threat of terrorism reaches Karachi

    After Islamabad and Balochistan, threat of terrorism reaches Karachi

    The Sindh government has informed provincial police and DG Rangers that three banned organisations have planned major terrorist incidents in three major cities of the province—Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.

    According to an official letter sent to the concerned authorities, the banned organisations include Baloch Revolution Army, Baloch Raaji Ajoi Sanga and Sindh Revolution Army.

    Moreover, the letter stated that the aforementioned organisations have also distributed arms and ammunition to their associated terrorists.

    On the other hand, Islamabad Police on Tuesday issued a “special security plan” after analysing the current security situation of the capital.

    The law enforcement agency said that at least 25 temporary security check posts have been established at different locations in Islamabad.

    Authourities will be using safe city cameras to record traffic at Red Zone entrances while the videos of metro bus service passengers will also be recorded.

    The police have also requested residents and foreigners to carry their identification documents.

    Since the suicide attack in Islamabad on December 23, multiple foreign missions including the United States (US) Saudi Arabia and Australia have advised their citizens and staff to limit their movement in the capital.

    Pakistan is facing a resurgence of terrorism since the militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its ceasefire with the government in late November.