QUETTA, Oct 25: The Awami National Party (ANP) and the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) said on Friday the Balochistan government had failed in curbing the growing lawlessness in the province.

Also on Friday, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch issued directives to security agencies to make all-out efforts for the safe recovery of ANP leader Arbab Abdul Zahir Kasi and cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen, who were kidnapped recently.

Speaking at a rally outside the press club here, ANP leaders Dr Inayatullah Khan and Jabbar Khan condemned the government and accused law-enforcement agencies of not taking appropriate measures for the recovery of Mr Kasi.

They said the poor response of the government could force their party to show strong reaction. Three days had passed since the kidnapping of Mr Kasi, but the government agencies had not made sincere efforts to trace his whereabouts, they added.

They said the provincial government was helpless and actual powers rested with the agencies who were not interest in protecting lives of people and nabbing elements involved in kidnappings.

The ANP leaders said that under a conspiracy the people of different communities and ethnic groups were being targeted. They mentioned attacks on members of Hazara community, Punjabi-speaking people, doctors, businessmen, tribal elders and politicians.

Addressing a public gathering at the Mengalabad suburb of the city, BNP-M leaders Agha Hasan Baloch, Ghulam Nabi Marri and Musa Baloch said the government’s inaction was encouraging kidnappers and terrorists to increase their activities.

The public gathering was organised to mark the fourth death anniversary of Nawabzada Riaz Zehri.

The leaders paid tribute to Nawabzada Zehri. They criticised the government for having failed in arresting his killers even after passage of four years.

They said security situation in Balochistan was turning from bad to worse and the government had no plan to improve it. They mentioned the kidnapping of ANP leader Kasi and Dr Tareen.

They said the BNP was being victimised for raising a voice against elements who were looting resources of Balochistan. They said the anti-Baloch elements could not stop the party from struggling for the rights of Balochistan.

Meanwhile, a meeting presided over by the chief minister reviewed security situation in the province and discussed various issues pertaining to law and order, particularly kidnapping of Mr Kasi and Dr Tareen.

The chief minister took notice of complaints lodged by transporters about the alleged extortion by police and Levies personnel on national highways. He issued directives to the inspector general of police to take action against officials involved in such cases.