Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti said on Sunday that no Baloch had killed any Punjabi but terrorists killed Pakistanis.

“Terrorists have no religion, sect or ethnicity and they should be treated as terrorists only,” he said at a press conference.

A spate of terrorist attacks rocked the resource-rich but backward province late August 25. Militants killed over 40 civilians, including 23 in Musa Khel after identity check, in at least 12 places.

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday midnight across the province. They also targeted security personnel. They stormed police stations, blew up railway tracks, and set fire to almost three dozen vehicles.

He said that in Baloch traditions travellers “are very important and the Baloch have a lot of respect and esteem” for women and children.

“No Islamic or even Baloch traditions allow killing innocent human beings in front of women or children. The state is standing with oppressed people and with the family members of all those who lost their dear ones in recent terrorism incidents,” he added.

The Balochistan CM reiterated that no leniency would be shown to terrorists. “The Balochistan government, along with law enforcement agencies, will make sure that terrorists meet their logical end.”

He also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir for visiting Balochistan and conducting an apex committee meeting.

“Action was taken on demands of the Balochistan government from the federal government. As the federal government has announced compensation for the martyrs, the Balochistan government will also give Rs2 million to each family. The Balochistan government will also compensate for damaged vehicles,” he added.

The Balochistan CM said that ‘Disgruntled Balochs’ was not a right term, “they are only terrorists and there is a ruling of the then Speaker Quddus Bizenjo in this regard which he had given in the Balochistan Assembly. An all-out effort will be made to eradicate terrorism from Balochistan and establish the writ of state in real sense, he maintained.

He said that those who commit violence in the name of religion had nothing to do with religion and likewise those involved in violence in the name of nationalism had nothing to do with it. He said that certain groups could not be allowed to create unrest and instability in the country just for their vested interests.

He said that people of Balochistan equally feel the pain and agony of the families of the martyrs.

He said such nefarious actions could not harm the state’s resolve against terrorism. Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said he had visited the residence of Shaheed Captain Muhammad Ali Qureshi and offered condolences with the family. He also visited the grave of the Shaheed and offered Fateha.

He said that response teams had responded well in time which helped minimise the damage.