CM Bugti says missing persons issue permanently resolved in Balochistan

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday claimed that the long-standing issue of missing persons in the province has been “resolved on a permanent basis,” saying the matter had previously been politicised for electoral gains.

In a post on X after chairing a provincial cabinet meeting, the chief minister said that certain elements had blamed the state and used the issue of missing persons for political purposes. “The issue of missing persons in Balochistan has been resolved on a permanent basis. For the first time, we have resolved it,” he stated.

Bugti said law enforcement agencies now have a clear legal framework to investigate suspects, adding that the state can no longer be blamed for enforced disappearances.

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According to a statement issued by a Balochistan government spokesperson, suspects will be interrogated at designated interrogation centres under the supervision of authorised police officers. The spokesperson added that family members of suspects will be allowed to meet them.

Meanwhile, the provincial cabinet approved the creation of two new administrative divisions — Pishin and Koh-e-Suleiman — aimed at improving governance and administrative efficiency. Under the new arrangement, Ziarat will administratively fall under Loralai division.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of a Municipal Committee Karbala in Pishin district and finalised an evaluation policy for law officers.

In another key decision, the cabinet announced that no child under the age of 16 will be subjected to forced labour, terming the move an important step towards child protection.

The cabinet further approved a policy to verify the educational documents of contract teachers. The chief minister’s inspection team has been assigned the task of degree verification, with FIRs to be registered against those found holding fake degrees. The verification process will begin in Nasirabad and Dera Bugti, CM Bugti directed.