Dialogue with dissident Baloch leaders ‘under national flag’

As the sub-committee of the federal cabinet on Thursday recommended launching a dialogue process with all Baloch leaders who were “ready to talk under the banner of the national flag”, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked all cabinet members and stakeholders to give their input on the recommendations so that the next meeting, which will exclusively discuss the Balochistan issue, could finalise the recommendations.
The committee also recommended for formation of another high-level committee comprising the Balochistan governor, chief minister and corp commander for better coordination between civilian and military hierarchy, Pakistan Today has learnt. The federal cabinet, which met at the PM’s secretariat with Raja Pervez Ashraf in the chair, held two separate sessions – first dedicated to devising a strategy to discuss the militant attack against Malala Yousufzai, while the second session took up other important issues.
Per a source, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf covered issues such as the attack on Malala, the Swiss letter, President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), energy crisis an accountability bill in his address. A source said during the meeting, a minister called for launching an operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), but another opposed such a move.
The minister urged the government to take a final decision to nail down the militants who had lost the sympathies of the media and even some major religio-political parties following the attack on Malala.
During the first session, Ashraf condemned the terrorists attack on Malala, stating that he had given special instructions to the relevant authorities to provide best medical treatment available at home and abroad at state expense to the injured girls, a member of the cabinet informed Pakistan Today. He said the nation had the will and determination to protect its values and principles and the future of its children, while the cabinet prayed for an early recovery of the injured girls.
The source said the Supreme Court had approved the text of the letter proposed by the government for sending it to Swiss authorities, adding that it clearly showed that the government fully respected the courts and it also silenced those who had been propagating a clash between the executive and judiciary. The PM also directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to chalk out a comprehensive plan for gas load management during winter with a special focus on ensuring uninterrupted supply to the domestic consumers. He also reiterated the government’s resolve to contact all opposition parties and attempts to form a consensus on the national accountability bill.
Briefing reporters over the cabinet’s decisions, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the sub-committee of the cabinet on Balochistan presented its report containing its recommendations to the meeting.
He said the sub committee had recommended that political reconciliation should be given top priority. “Dialogue should be started with all the concerned with the involvement of notables and elders, who can easily communicate with them,” he added. Kaira said the PM had already made it clear that dialogue would be initiated with all those who were ready to talk under the banner of national flag.