QUETTA: Mr. Sobdar Khan Mueenvi, Special Assistant to the Baluchistan Governor for Press and Politics, has said that the sardars of Marri and Mengal tribes would not be allowed to have “independent states” within the Province of Baluchistan. He accused Sardar Khair Bukhsh Marri and Sardar Ataullah Mengal of being responsible for acts of “subversion and sabotage” and “anti-State and anti-people” activities which, he said, were going on for quite some time in their respective areas.

Mr. Mueenvi who was talking to newsmen ... today [May 19], cited recent incidents at Awaran in which a jeep carrying some persons was ambushed and the ‘unprovoked’ killing of eight jawans of Dir Scouts [took place] near Sibi and said that these “guerrilla activities” were in line with the policies of the National Awami Party. There was no visible difference in tactics of the party, whether it was in power or out of power, he maintained.

He said, “we will frustrate the designs of these activists as we did during their rule of the Province” with the support and co-operation of the people. He described the law and order situation in the Province as perfectly normal, except in the areas where the two Sardars … wielded influence.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023