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ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (APP):Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad Tallal Badar on Tuesday rejected allegations of intelligence failure and defended the government’s handling of the law and order situation in Balochistan, while winding up a debate in the National Assembly on a motion moved by him to discuss the prevailing security situation in the country, particularly in Balochistan.
Concluding the debate, Tallal Badar said that certain elements were attempting to promote a narrative of deprivation in Balochistan to justify acts of terrorism and to undermine development initiatives, including international investment, mineral projects, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the strategic importance of Gwadar.
He said that claims of deprivation were contrary to facts, noting that under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, Balochistan received a per-capita share around 40 percent higher than Punjab, while more than 90 percent of provincial funds were contributed by the federation.
He added that Balochistan also received the largest share of federal development funding under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Highlighting development indicators, the minister said that at the time of independence there were only 114 schools in Balochistan, which had now increased to over 15,000.
He said there were now 12 universities, five medical colleges, 145 colleges, and 13 cadet colleges in the province.
He further noted the establishment of 13 major hospitals, 18 teaching hospitals, 33 district headquarters hospitals, 757 basic health units, 541 dispensaries, cardiac, TB and dialysis centres, airports in smaller cities, 321 technical and vocational institutions, and more than 25,000 kilometres of roads.
Tallal Badar said that terrorists deliberately targeted schools, hospitals, banks, highways, railways, and markets—facilities used by ordinary citizens—exposing the falsehood of their claims of fighting for public rights.
He said that if development, infrastructure, and governance improved, such elements would lose the space to advance their narrative.
Rejecting opposition claims of intelligence failure, the minister said it was due to intelligence-based operations that greater losses were averted.
He informed the House that in the 48 hours prior to recent incidents, intelligence-led operations in Harnai and Panjgur resulted in the killing of more than three dozen terrorists, arrests of others, and recovery of weapons and ammunition.
He said that so far 177 terrorists had been killed in ongoing operations.
He said that while even a single martyrdom was unacceptable, casualties included 17 law enforcement personnel—10 police officials, six FC personnel, and one Levies official—and 33 civilian labourers from Gwadar and Makran.
Responding to criticism regarding leadership engagement, Tallal Badar said the Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff visited Balochistan immediately after the Jaffer Express incident and held consultations with parliamentary parties.
He said an in-camera briefing was also held in the House with opposition participation, but regretted that the opposition later boycotted another scheduled in-camera session.
He said security operations were conducted with caution, particularly in crowded areas such as markets, to prevent civilian harm, as terrorists used civilians as human shields.
He also dismissed criticism over the continuation of routine activities such as sports and business, saying terrorists aimed to disrupt normal life and project a sense of paralysis.
“There will be no compromise on Pakistan’s security, survival, and progress,” Tallal Badar said, adding that political point-scoring should have no place at a time when the nation was mourning its losses.
“This is a national issue, and all political forces must play their role to defeat terrorism and restore lasting peace.”