Karachi, 8 Dec. (AKI/DAWN) - The government of Pakistan has detected five to six camps in the south-eastern province of Baluchistan, where people are being trained to carry out terrorist activities. The presence of the camps, known as Ferari camps, was discussed at an inter-provincial conference on law and order, during a discussion on the situation in Baluchistan. Five suspected terrorists from the militant group the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) were also arrested on Wednesday in Lahore. According to sources, it was revealed at the inter-provincial conference on law that the camps were operating under the supervision of some tribal sardars or tribal heads and that terrorists were also being paid money to carry out "assignments". Tribal groups in Baluchistan have been fighting with security forces, demanding more political autonomy and a greater share of the area's resources. At the conference on Wednesday, it was also revealed that the camps were located in the Sibi, Bolan, Shoran and Tilli areas of Baluchistan. The sources said that the conference discussed different steps to rein in outlaws and stop them from escaping from one province to another after committing crimes. During the past year, 261 bomb blasts have occurred in Baluchistan and 167 rockets were fired.
However, the conference was told that the federal government had no intention of launching any operation in the province and only a few measures were being taken to protect gas pipelines, government installations and assets. The need for early implementation of a decision to set up a joint border force was stressed. According to the decision, three police stations and 25 police posts would be set up at the junctions of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab provinces. These posts and police stations would be manned by 1,300 men of the joint border force to be recruited in Sindh, while in Punjab 2,500 will be recruited by January 31. The conference directed Sindh and Baluchistan authorities to take immediate steps to set up the posts and police stations and recruit personnel. The conference also directed the provinces to take measures for the protection of judges of tribunals trying terrorist cases and witnesses.
One of the militant groups that has emerged in the area is the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA). On Wednesday, police in Lahore also claimed to have arrested five suspected terrorists belonging to the BLA for carrying out bomb blasts in Punjab and Karachi. At the conference, Lahore investigation police chief Chaudhry Shafqaat Ahmad said clues from twin bomb blasts in the city on September 22 led police to the suspects. Nine people were killed and 37 others were injured in the explosions.
The police official said the accused had confessed to having carried out seven other blasts, including attacks on gas pipelines and other installations in Punjab. The police chief said the BLA had resorted to terrorist activities to register its protest against the larger provinces. âThey believe that the larger provinces and the central government have been usurping the rights of the Baluch and Baluchistan,â he said.
He said 80 kilograms of explosives, electric detonators, timers, remote controls, safety fuses and gas and chemicals used in making bombs had been seized from the arrested men.