QUETTA: Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti elected as Chief Minister of Balochistan. He urged the Baloch insurgents to abandon their armed struggle and join mainstream politics for the achievement of the people’s rights.

Speaking on the floor of the house on Saturday after being elected unopposed as Balochistan chief minister, Mr Bugti said: “Rights could not be achieved through arms.”

He said dialogue was the right path for resolving all issues and his party believes in dialogue and reconciliation for resolving any conflict and wants that the insurgents sitting on the mountains should come down, join mainstream and take part in the development of Pakistan, especially the province of Balochistan.

“I will invite the angry people repeatedly to come down and become good citizens and join the struggle of the government in its efforts for the development of the country,” Mr Bugti said. He said the government would extend all help and cooperation for the achievement of their rights determined in the constitution.

He said that parliament is the forum which ensures the rights of every citizen. He said that there are two tolls of dealing with violence; one is dialogue and other deterrence.

However, Mr Bugti made it clear that despite repeated appeal for abandoning violence, if they would continue to challenge the writ of the state, the government would fulfill its responsibility to maintain the writ and supremacy of law and protection of the life and priority of the people.

While referring to other issues said that the government will take all possible steps for resolving the issue of governess, education, health in the province.

Earlier, the Balochistan Assembly formally elected Mr Bugti as the 18th chief minister who took the oath of office at a ceremony held at Governor House, here on Saturday.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari along with party leadership, government officials and party workers attended the ceremony.