Nawaz suggests APC on Balochistan unrest

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has suggested a national conference on the situation in Balochistan and offered to host it in Islamabad, saying peace could not prevail in Balochistan until those involved in injustices were brought to book.
Nawaz was addressing a press conference at Bugti House on Friday after meeting several nationalist leaders. After his meeting with Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Talal Akbar Bugti, son of slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, Nawaz admitted that the prevailing situation in Balochistan was serious and feared drastic results if immediate steps were not taken to resolve the issues. He condemned the recovery of bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch missing persons and demanded an immediate end to the practice. He expressed concern over the incidents of all types of targeted killings, adding that his party strongly condemned such incidents. Nawaz said the issue should be resolved at the earliest, otherwise the situation in Balochistan could not be stable.
The PML-N chief said it was high time to address the grievances of Baloch people and the president and prime minister should themselves take notice of the oppressions of Baloch people. He said they (Baloch people) were demanding their legitimate rights and if denied, they would go for rebellion and the situation could not be controlled. To a question regarding new provinces, the PML-N leader said they were not against creation of new provinces, but they should be on administrative basis not any other. About Senate elections, he said though the PPP wished to hold Senate elections in February, it was not possible. Nawaz said early general elections should be held in the country as it was the demand of the people who wished to see change through polls. He said he met Baloch leader Sardar Attaullah Mengal in Karachi and suggested holding a national conference on Balochistan issue in Islamabad. He said he wanted to make the same suggestion to the leaders of National Party, Dr Malik Baloch and Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo and President of JWP Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti. They agreed to his idea because Balochistan’s issues needed immediate attention.
After meeting National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at MPAs hostel, the PML-N leader said the people of Balochistan should be given their rights and the incidents of recovery of decomposed bodies, targeted killings and kidnappings should end.
He said that the focus should be shifted to improving the health and education facilities in the province. Nawaz said the government did not take action against the people involved in the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Kharotabad incident and Baloch missing persons. He said a case should have been filed against the murderers of Nawab Bugti by the government and asked why Gilani did not take any action to bring the murderers to justice. Separately, Nawaz said in an interview with a private TV channel that collective resignation by his party could backfire. Overruling the risky proposal, he opined that “resignations could also backfire instead, strengthening the government”.