News
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Kayani asks Baloch militants to talk with government
* COAS denies army, intel agencies have any link with mutilated bodies
* Says efforts underway to protect rights of Baloch people
* Inaugurates Garrison Sports Academy
By Mohammad Zafar
QUETTA: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani advised the Baloch militants to hold talks with the political leaders, preferably with the provincial government, for settling the political and other issues.
Talking to newsmen following inauguration of the Garrison Sports Complex on Monday, he said there is representative democracy in the country, therefore the militants should hold negotiations with the political leaders in the federal and provincial governments. Replying to a question by a journalist, who asked if he (the COAS) would be part of such a parley, he categorically said that a political government and representative democracy were in place and functioning successfully, therefore presence of army in such parleys will be misplaced and unsuitable. He said he favoured talks between the government and any other section of society and was ready to help if such talks were planned or held.
General Kayani categorically denied the involvement of Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies in killing and dumping of mutilated bodies, which are being recovered from different parts of Balochistan. He expressed these views while talking to journalists after inaugurating the Garrison Sports Academy and Institute of Medical Sciences in Quetta. “Army has nothing to do with the mutilated bodies being recovered in Balochistan, and nor any military operation is being carried out in any part of the province. It was the responsibility of provincial government to maintain law and order situation in the province and army is present for assistance and to help them out,” he told the reporters.
The Baloch nationalists usually blame security forces and security agencies for whisking away Baloch political opponents whose bodies are later found dumped in desolated places. It was the second statement coming from Pakistan Army in which it rejected the involvement of army and its intelligence agencies in killing and dumping the bodies of Baloch missing persons. Commander of the Southern Command Lt General Jawed Zia a week ago expressed his concern over the discovery of mutilated and bullet-riddled bodies and said this could have an adverse effect on the integrity of the country and could lead to separation of Balochistan.
In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, General Kayani said the people of Balochistan are patriotic and army will leave no stone unturned to bring prosperity and development in Balochistan. “Strong Balochistan is linked with strong Pakistan and all efforts are underway to protect the rights of Baloch people,” he added. Kayani said army, with the help of people, will foil all attempts to weaken the country. Terming both the sports complex and institute of medical sciences a gift for the people of Balochistan, he said eighty percent of in the institute have been marked for the people of Balochistan.
Speaking on the occasion, provincial Health Minister Ainullah Shams hailed the role of army by saying that it had always assisted the civilian government in emergency situations. Earlier, Lt General Zia said the Institute of medical sciences has been completed within a short span of one year at a cost of Rs 5 billion. The classes will start by November in this year.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk