Islamabad – Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has asserted that the provincial government will not allow miscreants to challenge the writ of the state, stressing that decisive operations against terrorists remain a necessity.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad this Thursday, Bugti acknowledged that governance failures and corruption have long plagued the province, but firmly rejected the notion that militancy could be justified on grounds of deprivation or political grievances.

“Does feeling deprived give anyone the right to kill innocent people? Terrorism has no justification under any circumstances,” he said.

Bugti drew a clear line between Baloch youth who have not taken up arms and those engaged in violence. He said militants seeking to “break Pakistan” cannot be excused under the banner of political discontent.

Clash with Human Rights Narratives

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticised state actions in Balochistan; from curbs on activists such as Dr. Mahrang Baloch of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) to reports of enforced disappearances and communications blackouts.

Also see: Amnesty International Faces Allegations of Bias and Source Manipulation in Pakistan

Bugti dismissed these allegations, arguing that many so-called disappearances were cases of “self-disappearance,” exploited for propaganda. “Unfortunately, you continue to buy the narrative being peddled out here, without thinking that the reality may be different from perception,” he remarked.

He also criticised Dr. Mahrang Baloch, accusing her of spreading disinformation and acting as a shield for proscribed organisations. Bugti claimed her group had raised separatist flags and played the Balochistan Liberation Army’s anthem at gatherings. “Which country tolerates such advocacy on its soil?” he asked.

Nobel Peace Prize Controversy

The Chief Minister’s comments come amid international attention after Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes supported Mahrang Baloch’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Observers linked Bugti’s remarks to what he sees as a dangerous elevation of separatist narratives under the guise of human rights.

Frydnes himself has faced scrutiny in Norway over allegations of mismanagement during his tenure at Utøya AS and accusations of political bias, raising further debate over the credibility of the nomination.

Observers linked the role of the BYC to the March 11 hijacking of the Jaffer Express by BLA militants, which left innocent passengers dead. According to security officials, Mahrang Baloch and her group attempted to seize the bodies of armed militants from Civil Hospital in Quetta, misrepresenting them as “missing persons” to incite unrest. 

Authorities accused the BYC of forcibly taking the bodies from legal heirs, disrupting hospital operations, and damaging infrastructure during subsequent protests. Bugti asked, “When they snatch bodies from hospitals, should police and law enforcement simply stand by? We act strictly according to law.” The group also allegedly cut fiber optic cables, blaming the state for the outage.

Terrorism Cannot Be Branded as Human Rights

Officials argue these acts violated multiple sections of Pakistan’s Penal Code, including kidnapping, theft, intimidation, and public mischief. Bugti underscored that Pakistan respects lawful dissent but cannot allow armed groups or their sympathisers to operate under the guise of human rights activism. 

Also see: Frydnes Under Spotlight in Lobbying Row Over Mahrang Baloch and Nobel Prize

Observers note that these allegations against the BYC and its leader Mahrang Baloch cast a shadow over her international recognition campaign. 

Critics argue that nominating an activist accused of glorifying militants and manipulating narratives undermines the credibility of global institutions such as the Nobel Peace Prize. They stress that honoring individuals linked, directly or indirectly, to proscribed groups risks legitimizing militancy and separatist agendas under the banner of “human rights.”