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QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti on Friday announced that the provincial government is ready to hold political dialogue with those willing to abandon violence, while making it clear that security operations against armed militant groups will continue until peace is restored. Speaking at the passing-out parade of the Anti-Terrorism Force’s 20th basic training course in Quetta, the chief minister said individuals who surrender and renounce militancy would be given an opportunity to rebuild their lives through a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. Under the government’s reintegration plan, former militants will be offered government employment, educational opportunities for their children and access to healthcare facilities to help them become productive members of society. He said the initiative aims to encourage peaceful participation in the province’s development. However, Bugti warned that those who continue armed activities would face firm action. He said the provincial government, Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, police, Counter Terrorism Department and Anti-Terrorism Force were working together to eliminate terrorism and restore lasting peace across Balochistan. Referring to the recent rise in militant attacks, the chief minister acknowledged that the province’s security challenges had intensified in recent years but expressed confidence that ongoing counterterrorism operations would defeat militant groups. Bugti also urged political leaders to avoid linking political disagreements with acts of terrorism. While criticism of the government was part of the democratic process, he said attacks on the country’s security forces should not be justified or politicised. Addressing the newly graduated ATF personnel, the chief minister praised their commitment to national service and described them as guardians responsible for protecting the people and maintaining peace. He added that the government was reviewing measures to further strengthen the professional training of security personnel to meet emerging security challenges. The chief minister also announced Rs150 million for improving the Anti-Terrorism Force training school’s infrastructure and highlighted recent steps taken to enhance benefits and welfare packages for police personnel and the families of martyred officers, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement institutions.

An internal report has revealed that 268 borrowers have defaulted on loans worth more than Rs2.68 billion at the Bank of Punjab (BOP), raising questions about the recovery of outstanding loans at the province’s government-owned bank. According to the report, each of the 268 borrowers has outstanding liabilities exceeding Rs1 crore. The list reportedly includes individuals, firms and companies with significant loan defaults. Sources familiar with the matter claimed that some prominent political and business figures may also be included among the borrowers. However, the identities and details of the alleged defaulters have not been independently verified. The reported figures have renewed concerns over the bank’s loan recovery mechanisms and lending practices. Large loan defaults can affect a financial institution’s liquidity and its ability to extend credit to other customers, particularly when recovery remains delayed. The Bank of Punjab is a major government-owned financial institution in Punjab and conducts both commercial and government-related banking operations. The Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank is another state-owned financial institution, but its activities are primarily focused on the cooperative sector. Banking experts have called for stronger monitoring of large loans, improved recovery mechanisms and greater transparency in lending by state-owned banks. They say timely recovery of defaulted loans is essential to protect public resources and maintain confidence in the banking system. The report has also raised questions about the circumstances under which the loans were approved and the steps taken by the bank to recover the outstanding amounts. The Bank of Punjab management has so far not issued an official statement confirming or rejecting the figures contained in the report. Further verification of the reported list, including the identities of the borrowers and the status of recovery proceedings, would be necessary before any individual or company can be held responsible for the alleged defaults.

Senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) held a high-level meeting in Muzaffarabad on Thursday to defuse growing political tensions over the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. The meeting came after days of heated exchanges between the two coalition partners following the Mirpur election. The PPP had accused the electoral process of being marred by widespread irregularities and raised concerns over the credibility of the results. According to sources, the talks were aimed at preventing the election dispute from affecting the working relationship between the two parties in the federal coalition government. The meeting was reportedly arranged after consultations at the federal level. Some sources claimed that the initiative received support from both the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office. However, this could not be independently verified. The PPP delegation included Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore and Nayyar Bukhari. They met with senior PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam. During the meeting, both sides openly discussed their concerns over statements made during the election campaign and after the announcement of the Mirpur results. PML-N leaders asked the PPP to present evidence supporting its allegations of organised election rigging. In response, PPP leaders said their objections were limited to four constituencies — LA-5, LA-9, LA-11 and LA-12 — where they believe serious irregularities took place. PML-N leaders argued that by restricting its objections to only four constituencies, the PPP had effectively accepted the results of the remaining nine seats. They noted that PML-N won five of those seats, while the PPP secured four. After detailed discussions, both parties agreed that political tensions should not be allowed to escalate further. They also agreed that the dispute should not affect the remaining phases of the AJK elections. The meeting also reviewed security arrangements for polling in the remaining constituencies, particularly in Muzaffarabad. Both parties agreed that no individual should be allowed to carry weapons inside or around polling stations. They stressed that strict security measures were necessary to ensure peaceful, transparent and orderly polling. Political observers view the meeting as the first major reconciliation effort by the two coalition partners to contain the election dispute