Marvi Memon calls on IGP Balochistan

GNN - QUETTA: Ms. Marvi Memon, the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Monday held meeting with IGP Balochistan, Aamlesh Khan and CCPO Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema.

The senior police officials told that investigation into Sahar Batool case has been completed and the culprits involved in the killing of the little girl were identified and would be arrested soon.

She urged the senior police officials to evolve a mechanism to provide foolproof security to pilgrims visiting Iran through Taftan border.

Abdul Qayyum Changezi, the chief of Hazara Qaumi Jirga was also present.

AIP,APP

2 cops killed, 4 injured as police van plunges into ravine near Hub

GNN - KARACHI: As many as two policemen were killed and four others injured as a police van plunged into a ravine near in Hub on Monday, Aaj reported.
According to the rescue sources, the accident took place near Gaddani Morh. The dead and injured were taken to the Civil Hospital located in Hub.

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Blast in Khuzdar leaves 2 dead, 10 injured

(#GNN) - #QUETTA: Two #people were killed and 10 others were injured in an #explosion on #Jinnah Road in #Khuzdar, #Balochistan on Saturday.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment where hospital sources said six of the wounded were in critical condition.

According to reports, a security forces vehicle was the target of the attack. Two shops, motorcycles and the targeted vehicle were damaged in the explosion.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area.(GNN) (Express)(AIP)

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1 FC official killed, 3 injured in militant attack

The FC convoy comprising three vehicles was on routine patrol in the Sunt Sar area when it came under attack. PHOTO: ONLINE

QUETTA: A Frontier Corps (FC) official was killed and three others wounded after their convoy was ambushed by Baloch militants in the Sunt Sar area of Gwadar — one of the volatile districts in Balochistan — on Tuesday evening.

“A FC man died on the spot while three others sustained injuries. Militants fired rocket propelled grenades and intense firing followed afterwards,” Khan Wasay, spokesperson FC, told Media.

The FC personnel returned fire to attackers and more troops rushed on the spot. The militants escaped from the scene after a brief exchange of fire.

The FC convoy comprising three vehicles was on routine patrol in the Sunt Sar area when it came under attack.

“The Baloch militants belonged to the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF),” a security official in Gwadar said.

Security forces have mounted a search operation in the area. The dead and injured security personnel were first shifted to nearby hospital and later transported to Quetta.

Development in Balochistan: Pre-budget seminar urges for creation of natural resource-based economy

CM's representative says budget will 'break from tradition'. DESIGN: CREATIVE COMMON

QUETTA: In its forthcoming budget for the financial year 2014-15, Balochistan must introduce structural changes in developmental planning and resource allocation with increased focus on communication infrastructure, education, health and water management, incrementally transforming the province from a pastoral economy to knowledge and natural resource-based economy.

Speakers at the pre-budget seminar on “Balochistan Budget 2014-2015: Consultative Dialogue on Equitable Allocation for Development” held  on Tuesday reiterated that the incumbent coalition government of Balochistan needs to develop a comprehensive strategy to use the legislative, fiscal, policy planning and administrative spaces provided by the 18th Constitutional Amendment and 7th NFC Award more effectively and efficiently.

The upcoming budget should reflect the commitments by the ruling parties made in their election manifestos, said speakers at the day-long session, organised by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Pakistan, the UNDP’s Strengthening Participatory Federalism and Decentralisation project, Balochistan Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit (CMPRU) and AID Balochistan. The proceedings were moderated by Executive Director SFCG Pakistan Ammara Durrani and Chief CMPRU Dr Kaiser Bengali.

Government representatives, economists, political party representatives, members of civil society, media and other key stakeholders attended the seminar and discussed trends and results of budgetary spending in Balochistan. Their recommendations will be shared with the provincial finance department for its consideration in the forthcoming Provincial Finance Bill 2014-15.

The seminar started with a detailed presentation on Balochistan’s fiscal situation by CMPRU, revealing that after the seventh NFC Award, Balochistan’s annual receipts from the divisible pool has increased from Rs60 to 120 billion at the close of fiscal year 2009-10.

Speaking at the opening session, Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance Khalid Langove Humayun pointed to a disparity between development and non-development expenses with Rs44 to 154 billion respectively and suggested that this must be rationalised with an increased development budget. He also recommended including security as a key indicator for divisible pool allocations for Balochistan.

The Chief Minister’s Advisor on Education Sardar Raza Mohammad Barrech commented on the bleak educational situation in Balochistan, saying around 12,000, or half, of Balochistan’s schools are still single-teacher multi-grade schools.

Dr Kaiser Bengali said that Balochistan’s upcoming budget will break from traditional budgets in order to ‘change the economic geography of the province’.  Some of the key development projects in next year’s development plan include a revival of Harnai Woolen Mills, coal-based power plants and natural resource development in the province transforming Balochistan into a ‘natural resource economy’.

Participants in the session focused on human development and gender parity figures, the lowest in Balochistan across the country. Some of the key suggestions to improve this situation included equal and judicious distribution of resources, enhanced participation of women in politics, separate women-friendly spaces and facilities for women such as hostels, sports and recreational facilities, educational institutes and the integration of young women in the labour force.

Search operation: Ten insurgents killed in Balochistan

File photo of Frontier Corps personnel. PHOTO: ONLINE

QUETTA: Security forces killed at least 10 insurgents during a search operation on Monday near mountainous terrain between Panjgur and Awaran districts of Balochistan. During the encounter three members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) were also wounded.

 “It was an operation against militants, who had been attacking vehicles of Frontier Works Organisation and security forces,” Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters at his office in Quetta.

He said security forces – responding to a tip off – launched a search operation in Judder and Durachki –bordering the areas of Awaran and Panjgur districts.

 “As the operation was under way,” Bugti said, “the FC men came under fire from militants and three FC men were critically injured.” They were later shifted to the CMH Quetta via helicopter.

The gunfight went on for several hours. Up to 10 insurgents were killed and some of their hideouts were also destroyed, he added.

Published in GNN & Tribune, May 6th, 2014.

Rain forecast for parts of Punjab, KP, Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: The Met office has forecast rain for parts of Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The rain has been predicted for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Kohat, Peshawar, Malakand, Hazara, Bannu, D.I Khan, Zhob, Quetta, Kalat, Sibbi, Makran, Sargodha, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. (GNN) (Geo) (Yoogle)

Checkpost firing in Quetta leaves soldier dead, two wounded

QUETTA: Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire Sunday on a checkpoint of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) in Pakistan’s troubled southwest, killing one soldier and wounding two others, officials said.

FC forces retaliated after gunmen opened fire at a check post at Sariab Road in Quetta killing one of the suspects. Soon after, the FC forces surrounded the area and initiated a search operation.

A police official, Bashir Brohi, confirmed the incident and casualties. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Quetta, the largest city and the provincial capital of Balochistan, has been prone to several attacks and militant activities in the past. Two people were killed and another sustained injuries in a blast near Sariab Road, Quetta last week.

On August 8, an attack by a suicide bomber at the funeral of a senior policeman in Quetta plunged the country into grief when at least 30 people lost their lives and over 40 others were wounded, of which most were policemen attending the funeral.(Tribune) (GNN)

8 hurt in blasts near election offices in Balochistan

QUETTA: Eight people were injured in two separate blasts near election offices of two political parties in Kharan and Machh in Balochistan.

Police said five people were hurt in the explosion near Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) election office in Kharan.

The injured were rushed to hospital for treatment.

In a separate incident, three people sustained injuries in the blast near office of a political party in Machh. (Geo)