Paramilitary troops patrol a street during a strike in Quetta. — Reuters/File

QUETTA Balochistans home minister Zafarullah Khan Zehri says that despite the availability of information on target killings, the provincial government is helpless and cannot apprehend the culprits.

But a DawnNews investigation reveals that Balochistan has one law enforcer for every seven citizens.

Officials estimate the number of law enforcers per capita in Balochistan  as much higher than other provinces.

There are 49,000 police and levies personnel, in addition to the deployment of army coastguards and different secret security outfits.

And Balochistan has paid more than four billion rupees only to the police force alone.

Zehri claims he is aware of the identities of those involved in spreading unrest, but the security mechanism remains ineffectual in capturing them.

The Balochistan home minister, however, regretted having limited authority, blaming it as the main hurdle towards the arrest of those allegedly accused.

 

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

OVER the last few weeks, there have been several exchanges involving top officials and their Saudi counterparts. At...
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.