Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has warned that private properties cannot be allowed to become safe havens or launchpads for terrorist attacks, saying owners who knowingly permit militants to use their land against security forces or government officials will be treated as facilitators.
Bugti’s warning came against the backdrop of terrorist attacks launched from or facilitated through civilian areas in Balochistan, particularly in Mastung, where orchards and other privately owned properties can provide militants with shelter and operational space.
The chief minister made it clear that private ownership could not be used as a shield for terrorist activity. While the government did not want to harm innocent civilians, he stressed that property owners could not remain indifferent if their premises were knowingly being used to plan, facilitate or launch attacks.
“The blood of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel is extremely sacred,” Bugti said, stressing the State’s responsibility to protect personnel deployed on the frontline to safeguard communities.
The issue goes beyond individual properties, as terrorist networks depend on access to shelter, safe locations and logistical support to sustain their operations. Disrupting these enabling structures is therefore an important component of counterterrorism, particularly in areas where militants attempt to exploit civilian spaces to evade security operations.
At the same time, accountability must remain focused on those who knowingly facilitate terrorism, rather than ordinary property owners or innocent communities. Any action against alleged facilitators should be based on credible evidence and carried out through due legal process.
The principle of holding individuals accountable for knowingly providing support or resources to terrorist organisations is also reflected in international counterterrorism frameworks. Legal systems in countries including the United States and United Kingdom provide mechanisms for dealing with material support and property connected to terrorist activity.
For Balochistan, the issue has an additional civilian-protection dimension. When militants establish themselves in populated or privately owned areas, surrounding communities are also exposed to violence, insecurity and disruption. Preventing terrorist groups from turning civilian spaces into operational bases can therefore help protect both security personnel and local residents.
Bugti’s warning effectively places responsibility on property owners to ensure that their premises are not knowingly being used to facilitate violence. Those who accommodate or assist terrorist elements cannot claim neutrality while providing the physical space that enables attacks.
The broader objective is to deny terrorist groups the safe havens and support infrastructure they require to operate, while strengthening the writ of the State across Balochistan.
The message from the provincial government is therefore twofold: innocent civilians and their property must be protected, but properties knowingly used to facilitate terrorism cannot be allowed to operate beyond the reach of the law.
