Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai on Tuesday said that during his short tenure as interim chief minister, he would do everything within his power to maintain peace in the province during the elections.
According to a local newspaper, Barozai said that he was going to fly to London to try and convince the Khan of Kalat Suleman Daud Khan to end his self-imposed exile and return to Pakistan.
“I have long-standing and friendly relations with the Khan of Kalat and will sincerely endeavour to convince him to come home,” he said.
Speaking about other Baloch leaders, Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyair Marri, Zumran Marri and Javed Mengal, who were also in exile in London and Geneva, Barozai said that consultations were in progress to initiate talks with all of them.
The caretaker chief minister also said that there are certain elements that were against holding general elections in Balochistan. He expressed reluctance to name them.
However, he reiterated that the elections would be would be held on time, adding that talks with Baloch and Pashtun nationalist groups had been encouraging.
“Talks with Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Balochistan National Party President Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Dr Abdul Malik, a top leader of the National Party proved fruitful and this will help our efforts to ensure free, fair and impartial elections,” he maintained.
At the same time, Barozai admitted that there was a pronounced lack of trust among both the political forces and the people at large.
To a question about the reservations being expressed by Mengal over the lack of security to his party candidates in different parts of the province, Barozai said he would take all steps to ensure the security of every candidate. He did not agree with the view that Mengal was looking for excuses to boycott the elections. “I think his reservations are based on some misunderstandings,” he said.
Barozai was also very clear about Balochistan’s economic problems.
“Islamabad is not giving the province its economic rights,” he said, adding that while there were tall claims of development projects initiated with funds allocated by the federal government, the reality was that was much different.
“The funds for development projects are received here after a long delay and such delays cause losses instead of developments. Several highways development projects funded by the federal government in Balochistan have not so far received the required funds,” Barozai said. “Ultimately, the solutions to our economic issues must be in the hands of those who are sitting in Balochistan.”