Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar hit out on Monday at the supporters of Baloch protesters who have been staging a sit-in in Islamabad against the purported enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their community.

“Those who think that they are right so then join BLA and BLF [banned terrorist organisations] camps so that we have clarity where they are standing,” he told reporters in Lahore after visiting the Business Facilitation Center. He was accompanied by Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

He was responding to a query on Baloch protesters in Islamabad and reports of police action against them.

A group of people from Balochistan that has been protesting against the killing of a youth reached the federal capital on December 20. They are being led by the Baloch Yakjehti Council. The organisers of the protest had accused police of beating women protesters and children, an allegation police have denied.

Last month, President Arif Alvi and interim PM Kakar voiced concerns over the mistreatment of Baloch protesters by the Islamabad police.

He added that everyone has the right to protest under the ambit of law. Kakar shared the May 9 events when protesters violated laws and damaged state properties, prompting law enforcers to come into action to maintain order.

While speaking about the police action against Baloch protesters, he said that police baton-charged protesters and used water cannons after “stone pelting”.

He also criticised those who had likened the use of water cannons to the situation in Gaza, which is being bombarded by Israel, advising that such people should introspect and reflect.

“I ask them, are they comparing the Pakistani state to the Israeli state? […] Our quarrel is not at all with the families [of missing persons]. They have come before and protested, are still protesting, and will protest. It came to my knowledge that they had a confrontation with the police and that too was blown way out of proportion,” Kakar said and added that many thought that they could become “heroes” joining the movement, but it was not that easy.

The caretaker prime minister added that banned militant organisations Balochistan Liberation Army, Baluch Liberation Front, and Baloch Republican Army believed in armed struggle to break Pakistan.

According to Kakar, the outlawed organisations have killed 3,000 to 5,000 people. He said the militants associated with such outfits also had relatives of their own, who protested in their favour. “We accept the right to protest but we do not accept [acts of] terrorism by those linked with [Baloch] families.”

He added that the state would continue to fight the militant organisations.

PM Kakar said all those “wanting to become their supporters and writing columns” should go and join the militant organisations so that the state has clarity on where their loyalties stood.

Amidst his response, a reporter tried to raise a question but the prime minister asked him to sit as he wanted to complete his answer.

“I am listening to this repeated mocking of me regarding my ethnicity. What should we do? Give them the licence to kill? […] I want to reiterate that our fight is not with the families because it was not their decision that people associated with them took part in terrorism.”

Baloch families have the right to protest and speak even if they thought their relatives had participated in terrorism, he added. “But this “tu kon mei khamkaha” has gathered. They should answer us.”

By creating confusion, he said: “If they think they are dai [preacher] of the right path. I want to tell them neither this is 1971 nor it is becoming Bangladesh. That [separation of East Pakistan] occurred in nine months. It [the Balochistan issue] has been taking place for 20 years. Nothing is hidden.”

The premier added that he should not be criticised for how he would be remembered by the Baloch people, saying he had a long association with them and his fight was against militant organisations.

According to Kakar, those who have become “champions” should give an answer that who killed Dr Shafi Mengal and Maula Bux Dashti.

“We have a fight against armed organisations not against Baloch. Those who have become champions should give an answer that who killed Dr Shafi Mengal. Was not he Baloch? Was he Hindu or had he come from Hindustan? Who was Maula Bux Dashti? Was he Hindu, English, Christian, or Jew? Was not he Baloch? If you don’t have guts or don’t know so have a treatment for both of these things. Either get knowledge or have guts,” he asked.

To those who have been “trying to fight” on Twitter, now X, the premier said he would respond when his tenure as the interim prime minister would end.

Kakar said that 98% of Baloch was standing with the state of Pakistan.

“Most of the people who are protesting are related to those people [banned groups],” he said, “I reiterate I don’t have a fight with those families. I have a problem with these fake sympathisers.”

In response to a query about the IMF loan, he expressed hope that the country would receive the next tranche of the IMF loan.

“We will get free from IMF when we will collect most taxes. This can be a desire that we don’t do any lending. World’s biggest debtor is the US,” he said and added that unnecessary spending should be avoided after taking a loan.

“Taking loans is not that negative process. Loans play an important part in the economy. Questions on its wise and rationale dispensation and spending could be raised. It is more pertinent.”