The Balochistan government is considering the temporary relocation of approximately 1,000 residents from the mountainous Shor Parod area of Mastung district to facilitate a planned security operation against terrorist hideouts, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said on Saturday.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced that the provincial government is considering the temporary relocation of approximately 1,000 nomads from the mountainous Shor Parod area of Mastung district to facilitate a planned security operation against terrorist hideouts.
Addressing the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday, the chief minister clarified that the proposal is limited to Shor Parod and does not involve large-scale displacement elsewhere in Mastung or any other part of the province. The plan, he said, remains under consideration and has not yet been implemented.
Responding to concerns raised on the assembly floor regarding the cutting of orchards and the relocation of local residents, Bugti said Shor Parod has historically served as a refuge for armed groups and terrorist camps at different periods since the 1970s. According to a government survey, around 1,000 people currently reside in the area, most of them belonging to nomadic communities that seasonally move with their livestock.
The chief minister said the proposed relocation would be temporary and aimed solely at creating conditions for security forces to conduct operations against terrorist elements allegedly using the rugged terrain as a safe haven. He added that comprehensive arrangements would be made to ensure the welfare of affected families, particularly women, children and elderly citizens.
Bugti emphasized that security forces require what he described as an “enabling environment” to effectively combat terrorism. He argued that militants often exploit civilian areas and private properties as cover, making it difficult for security agencies to conduct operations without putting local populations at risk.
He further stated that the government has no intention of asking citizens to take up arms against terrorists, stressing instead that the responsibility for maintaining security lies with state institutions. According to the chief minister, the province continues to face serious security challenges, with both civilians and security personnel regularly falling victim to terrorist attacks.
The chief minister also reiterated his earlier position that private properties, including orchards, homes and other facilities, cannot be allowed to serve as launch pads or hideouts for terrorist activity. He maintained that the state has a responsibility to act whenever such locations are used to facilitate attacks on security forces or civilians.
The proposed Shor Parod operation is part of broader counterterrorism efforts underway in Balochistan, where security forces have intensified actions against militant networks in recent months. Provincial authorities maintain that any relocation associated with the operation will be temporary and accompanied by measures to support affected residents until they can safely return to their homes.
