BUGTI SAYS RAW INVOLVED IN TERROR ATTACKS IN BALOCHISTAN In partnership with
Sunday, 1 October, 2023 I 14 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445
VOWS TO PURSUE TERRORISTS TO THEIR ‘DENS’, SAYING POLICY OF APPEASEMENT NOT TO WORK ANYMORE
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SEPARATE FIRS OF MASTUNG SUICIDE BLAST AND HANGU POLICE LINES ATTACK REGISTERED
STAFF REPORT
NTERIM Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti on Saturday categorically declared that India’s foreign intelligence agency – Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was involved in the recent terror attacks in Balochistan, reiterating the resolve to pursue terrorists to their “dens.” “All incidents that took place before Mastung attacks have been unearthed and RAW’s involvement has been found in all these incidents”, Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti stated while speaking to the media in Quetta here on Saturday. He claimed: “Those playing the role of a facilitator, whoever is doing this — be it anyone, whatever you may call it — they all are the same for us, all have the same origins, all are being handled from one place, RAW is behind all them.” Bugti’s remarks come a day after a
grisly suicide blast targeting a 12th Rabiul Awwal procession in Balochistan’s Mastung claimed the lives of 55 people, including a police officer. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), re-
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sponsible for some of the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan, denied its involvement. The caretaker government of Balochistan announced three days of mourning in the wake of the attack. A second bomb attack took place yesterday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s
Hangu, which targeted a police station’s mosque in the city. Five people were killed, and 12 were injured as the mosque’s roof collapsed in the explosion’s impact. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Bugti vowed to pursue terrorists to their “dens” and that the policy of appeasement would not “happen anymore”. “What we know is that these appeasement policies adhered to — what we saw in the past two to three years — there is no tolerance for that.” He added that the state knew where the terrorists were operating from and asserted, “We will go to their dens, where they are nurtured and which are their safe havens, and we will go against them.” Noting that at times an attack would be conducted by one organisation and another would claim its responsibility, the interior minister said the recent attacks were being investigated.
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Petrol price slashed by Rs8, diesel Rs11 per litre ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The caretaker government on Saturday slashed the price of petrol by Rs8 per litre and that of high-speed diesel by Rs11 per litre for the next fortnight. According to a notification from the Ministry of Finance, the new price of petrol is Rs323.38 and Rs318.18 for HSD. It said the price revision was due to the variations in the international prices of petroleum products and the improvement in the exchange rate.
Previously, the prices of HSD and petrol were estimated to be reduced by about Rs15-19 per litre for the Oct 1-15 period mainly because of the rupee’s appreciation. The Pakistani rupee appreciated throughout the outgoing week, seeing an improvement of 1.4 per cent against the USD in the interbank market, and is on track to be the best-performing currency this month. Last week, Caretaker Commerce and Industries Minister Gohar Ejaz had said he was hopeful that the nation would receive “good news” regarding petrol prices on October 1. The prices of the two essential fuels were last
cut in mid-July when petrol was reduced by Rs9 per litre to Rs253 and diesel by Rs7 per litre to Rs253.50. Between Aug 15 and Sept 15, petrol and high-speed diesel prices jumped by Rs58.43 and Rs55.83 per litre, respectively. At present, the GST is zero on all petroleum products, but the government is charging Rs60 per litre petroleum development levy on petrol and Rs50 per litre each on HSD and high-octane blending component and 95 RON (Research Octane Number) petrol. The government is also charging about Rs22-23 per litre customs duty on petrol and HSD.
Forces of evil to continue facing full might of state: COAS RAWALPINDI
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Saturday said that the forces of evil will continue to face full might of the state and security forces backed by a resilient nation. General Syed Asim Munir, NI(M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) made these remarks during a visit to Quetta where he was briefed on recent terrorist attacks in Mastung and Zhob. The briefing was also attended by Federal Minister of Interior, Chief Minister Balochistan and key Provincial Ministers alongwith senior civil and military officials. The participants offered Fateha for the Shuhadas of Mastung, Hangu and Zhob incidents. COAS paid rich tribute to the Shuhada and remarked, “Such incidents of Terrorism on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal, depicts the ill intent of the Khawarij, who have the backing of State Sponsors of Terrorism. These terrorists and their facilitators, having no link with religion and ideology, are proxies of the enemies of Pakistan and its people.” “These forces of evil will continue to face full might of the state and security forces backed by a resilient nation. Our operation against terrorists would continue unabated and the Armed Forces, Intelligence and Law Enforcement Agencies shall not rest till the menace of terrorism is rooted out from the country,” he added. COAS emphasised, “the people of Pakistan have rejected terrorists’ pseudo ideology and propaganda of their backers and they are fully committed to peace, economic progress and human development which indeed is causing lot of distress to forces of evil in and outside of Pakistan”.
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