The two major opposition parties – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – are on the same page regarding the situation in Balochistan as the chiefs of both parties on Friday called for ending military operations in the restive province and giving political freedom to estranged groups.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with several leaders from Balochistan, including Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Akhtar Mengal and nationalist leader Sanaullah Baloch, in Islamabad.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Nawaz called for ending atrocities in the province and to win the hearts and minds of the estranged elements in the province to avoid a 1971-like situation.
Mengal, who served as Balochsitan chief minister during the government of Nawaz Sharif, presented his “six points” to the PML-N chief during the meeting.
Talking to reporters, Mengal said that none of his six points were contradictory to the constitution. He said that the federation must implement his proposals if it wanted to keep Balochistan with it. He said that his six points should not be considered different from the six points of Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman, the dissident leader of East Pakistan which later separated to become Bangladesh.
Without endorsing Mengal’s six points, Nawaz said that the disregard of Mujeebur Rehman’s six points in 1971 had caused the fall of Dhaka. Mengal also criticized the intelligence agencies and the military, holding them responsible for the situation in Balochistan. “Those people (army) cannot be trusted, the whole world knows their reality,” he said, adding that the former generals had even denied derailing democracy in the darkness of the night.
However, he expressed his gratitude for the judiciary for taking a suo motu notice on the issue of missing persons.
Asked whether his party would take part in local body elections, Mengal said that elections do not take place during wars anywhere in the world, adding, “Balochistan has been in a state of war for last 12 years.”
IMRAN KHAN: Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the PTI, party chief Imran Khan endorsed the six points raised by Mengal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and said that all political parties should be allowed to function freely to prepare the stage for a representative assembly.
Imran said that the situation in Balochistan had deteriorated tremendously after 2008 because of a non-representative government, which was installed despite a boycott by real political stakeholders. He said the resulting assembly was full of corrupt politicians who were only interested in pocketing millions of rupees every year.
Military operations against our own people, whether covert or overt, are never a solution but a destructive process, Imran said, adding that the PTI had always opposed such steps in the country, while Balochistan had a history of five operations.
This blame on government for political expression of freedom is baseless.the truth is that a few numbers of sardars have occupied the millions of land in their posessions not allowed any political freedom for the genral public since the creation of Pakistan.First of all the Systems of Chaudhryism in Punjab,Wadairaism in sindh,Khanism in Phakhtoonkhaw and Saradism in Baluchistan must be abolished ,finished and the whole lands must be handed over in government`s control and admiminstration,then there will be positive and fruitful results will appear for both Pakistan and for all the provinces`s people..Long discussion are not fruitful as these discussions will give benefits to Sardars only and the general public will be deprived of the results of these things.the poeple of Balochistan will benefit a lots.
Mr. Butt, This Spy-brand of patriotism has already broken country. Fact is that, Baloch are standing against state and major responsibility lies on state. Military and civil dictators destroyed Pakistan.
Mr Tariq Abbasi …. Just to put the record straight. The sardars are standing against the state and not the Baloch. Please study the demographics of Balochistan today. This is their last ditch attempt to save their feudal domains that should have been dismantled long ago.
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not even an illusion …
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Pakistan needs a new beginning and a new social contract and only man like Imran Khan can do it. Whta you can expect from a man like nawaz shareef who is a dishonest person and a corrupt politician.
We are with Imran Khan to lead pakistan for a new pakistan and a new Baluchistan. We are with people of baluchistan and will support their rights.
Noora should be in jail for overthrowing Mengals govt in 98. Mush should be in jail and executed for not executing noora tind
The first step – in full conformity with the Constitution of Pakistan – is for the military to be under civilian control. The armed forces of Pakistan, after shamelessly surrendering in Dhaka in December 1971, took uon themselves the task of destroying what was left. Baluchistan and the former NWFP province (now K-P) are emblazoned with the inglorious contributions of the rule of Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf. General Kayani should not hide from this truth and do all he can to salvage a challenging situation. Slick statements are unacceptable.
In the last three years, the federal government came up with a number of political initiatives to address the problems at hand. However, its political opponents devised a malicious strategy to discredit the PPP-led government in all its sincere efforts. The opposition did not let the government explore new revenue generation avenues and the restive bureaucracy did not let the government implement the NFC Award, called APC to resolve this issue according to whims and wishes of people and Balochistan Package. Where was Mian Nawaz Sharif at that time???? Whey he dint speak at that time for the welfare of Balochistan and now when election time is looming Mian Sahib is trying prove the great great well wisher of Baloch people for the sake of vote How hilarious…
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