Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf has said that as long as Pakistan army is present in Balochistan, the restive province cannot be separated from Pakistan.
Addressing Pakistan First – an organisation of retired army officers – over video link on the present situation in Balochistan, the former army chief said that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was an organisation of militants supported by foreign elements. He said the BLA was targeting everyone who was not a Baloch. He regretted that some politicians were supporting the separatists for political gains.
The former president said out of 160 tribes in the province, only three chieftains, namely Bugti, Marri and Mengal, wanted the separation of Balochistan for their vested interests and that they had the backing of foreign elements involved in destabilising Pakistan.
He claimed that Talal Bugti, Shahzeb Bugti and others were in contact with the foreigners for this purpose. He said only 4 percent of Pakistan’s population lives in Balochistan and 60 percent of its people had rejected the separatists. He regretted that the people of Pakistan were not fully aware of the situation in Balochistan, but even then they were perturbed over the prevailing crisis.
Musharraf said the situation had worsened in Balochistan due to the failure of the government, and he much concern about the situation. He said that during his tenure, four universities and three cadet colleges had been opened in Balochistan, and that all masters degree-holders were given Rs 10,000 scholarships and jobs. Speaking on the occasion, retired army officers also expressed concern over the situation in the province.
Balochistan won’t fall as long as Pakistan Army is there: Musharraf
