News
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Nawaz Sharif calls for APC on Balochistan* PML-N president warns Baloch leadership will revolt against Pakistan if immediate measures are not taken to address the grievances of Baloch people
Staff Report
QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday proposed holding of an All Parties Conference (APC) to discuss and resolve all the issues pertaining to Balochistan.
The PML chief discussed various issues with Baloch nationalist leaders for hours, prominent among them were National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, his vice president Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and the chief of his own faction of the Jamhoori Watan Party Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti.
Later, talking to reporters, Nawaz said that he would host the APC in Islamabad to discuss the Balochistan issue with all the stakeholders and political leadership of the country. He said grievances of the Balochistan should be addressed.
The PML-N chief was of the view that the Baloch leadership had not revolted against the country, but it could come to a point of no-return if the government failed to take immediate measures to address its grievances.
“The Baloch leadership should accept this offer and inform us about their opinion in this regard so that we bring unity in our rank. We have to learn from the past mistakes,” Nawaz said.
The PML-N chief said that the rights of the people of Balochistan must be accepted and protected by all concerned, including the government.
Situation in Balochistan had gone from bad to worse with the recovery of bullet-riddled and mutilated bodies of Baloch youth, rise in targeted killing and extra-judicial arrest of political activists, he added.
“Why don’t the president and the prime minister take notice of these issues,” he said, adding that the killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti were still at large while the government failed to take action against those responsible for Kharotabad incident.
“The government must disclose who was behind the killing of Police Surgeon Dr Baqar Shah,” he said.
“I had advised the government that Balochistan package would leave no impact until some serious and pressing issues are not resolved,” he said. The PML-N president said that he did not see any positive impact of the much publicised Balochistan package.
Criticising the role of intelligence agencies in politics, he said it did not bode well for the country. “The agencies are still playing their role in politics by asking the political leaders to join the party of their choice. Their role must be ended,” he said.
Nawaz was given a very warm welcome by the Baloch political leadership in the present political crisis and assured him of support as the PPP leadership had disappointed the Baloch political and nationalist forces.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk