QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani on Tuesday constituted a judicial inquiry into the alleged involvement of 11 children in acts of terrorism.

“The judge of the BHC will conduct judicial inquiry into the issue of alleged involvement of 11 children in bomb blasts and other terrorism-related activities,” Mr Raisani said.

The Quetta Police had arrested 11 children alleging their involvement in bomb blasts and incidents of terrorism. Parents of the arrested children staged a demonstration on Monday and the chief minister taking notice of the protest issued orders for a judicial inquiry into the matter.

OIL FIRMS: Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi has urged firms engaged in exploring and extracting oil, gas and other minerals in the province to contribute to socio-economic development of the areas of their operation.

He said this at a meeting with Managing Director of the Mari Gas Company Lt Gen (retd) Raza Mohammad Khan who called on him here on Tuesday.

The governor urged gas and oil companies to share financial benefits of their projects with the local people and allocate funds for socio-economic uplift of the areas of their operation.

“The companies working in gas and oil sector and on mines and minerals-related projects will have to provide technical training to the youths of the areas where they are working,” he said.

He praised the company for discovering gas reservoirs in Khost, Harnai, Zarghoon Gharawar and Hana areas of Ziarat district and expressed the hope that extraction of gas in the areas would begin soon.

Gas supply from the areas would cater to the need of Quetta and other areas, Governor Magsi said.

He said the government would cooperate with private companies in developing mines and mineral sector and ensuring environmental protection.