News
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Political dialogue panacea to Balochistan ills* Balochistan Declaration calls for military intervention to end immediately
* All political prisoners, missing persons be released
* Bugti’s killers be brought to justice
* Inter-parliamentary committee should prepare white paper on rights violations
* Inquiry commission be appointed, compensation be paid to those who lost lives
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Political parties on Saturday came forward with a declaration on Balochistan, unanimously agreeing that a solution to the province’s crisis lies in the political dialogue and the military intervention should, therefore, be ended immediately.
The 15-point Balcochistan Declaration was adopted at the National Conference on ‘Balochistan Issue and Its solution’, organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)
The civilian leadership of the country agreed that there was need for a new contract with the people of Balochistan to take stakeholders onboard with regard to their demands, policies and development projects of the province.
The declaration demanded that the “politics of garrison” be replaced by civilian authorities who genuinely represent the will of the people of Balochistan.
It also said that those responsible for the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti should be arrested immediately and brought to justice through an open trial.
Parallel to political negotiations, all military and paramilitary operations should be stopped and the army and the Frontier Constabulary (FC) be called back, it added.
Participants of the conference praised the Supreme Court (SC) for taking up the case of missing people in Balochistan.
They said that an inter-parliamentary committee should prepare a white paper on human rights violation in Balochistan between former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s rule to the present day. The report should be presented and discussed in parliament, they added.
“All political prisoners and missing persons in custody of different state agencies be released forthwith and an independent inquiry commission be appointed and appropriate compensation be paid to all those who have lost their lives or have become disabled on account of conflict situation,” the declaration read.
It said rigorous training should be given to FC and police for respecting human rights of people, adding that FC should be “strictly prohibited” to go beyond its scope of work. The declaration called upon political parties to play a proactive role in promoting a democratic culture in the country. “Towards this end, political parties may consider signing of yet another Charter of Democracy, so that they may gain the confidence of people and play a leadership role rather that remaining resigned to the status quo.”
It also urged political parties to rise above their personal interests and set up a genuinely neutral electoral mechanism. Addressing the conference at Balochitan Convention in Islamabad, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif called for brining Bugti’s killers to justice.
This, he added, is the starting point towards ensuring relief for the people of war-torn areas. “Unless and until, killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti are brought to justice without any bias, peace cannot be restored in the province,” he said.
“The Baloch have a right to rebel… why shouldn’t they, after all that they have been put through?” Nawaz said.
PPP leader Raza Rabbani proposed a grand alliance between the judiciary and parliament for the resolution of Balochistan issues. He said he believes in DRA [Dialogue, rule of law and autonomy].
The PPP leader said the 18th Amendment could not be beneficial in the province as long as bullet-riddled bodies continued to be recovered.
“Balochistan is the story of severe human rights violation, state neglect, exploitation of resources and deprivation of political rights cultural rights,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, opposing the military operation in Blaochistan, said the situation is worsened by a military offensive.
He said that unconditional amnesty should be announced for all Baloch leaders and a political dialogue should be initiated to resolve province’s issues. Expressing concern over the poor economic condition of Balochistan, he said Rs 110 billion were given to the provincial government in the NFC Award but the amount could not be utilised properly.
Afrasiab Khattak of the Awami National Party welcomed the civil society and lawyers for debating the Balochistan issue. “In the past, whoever demanded for provincial autonomy was declared traitors… but the trend has changed now,” he added. Haider Abbas Rizvi of the MQM said his party was in favour of “full provincial autonomy” in the 18th Amendment. He also urged the media to highlight the Balochistan issue.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s Mushahid Hussain said the province held an important strategic position in the region, which had wider impacts on the neighbouring countries.
“There is a need to change the mindset. Instead of a strong Centre, strong provinces can guarantee a stable Pakistan,” he added.
Mushahid emphasised upon ensuring the right to life which, he added, was the basic fundamental right of all citizens. He said that being the larger federating unit, Punjab should have raised the issue of missing persons.
The PML-Q leader suggested that all political prisoners should be released and a dialogue with disgruntled elements be held for permanent peace in the province.
He also praised Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and lawyers for taking an initiative over the issue.
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami, said the rights of Baloch on natural resources should be acknowledged.
Muhammad Khan Sherani of the JUI-F urged the military leadership not to interfere in affairs other than those related to defence of the country.
The legislation in parliament over all issues should be done in accordance with democratic norms and not with the thrust of majority, he added.
Abdul Malik Baloch of the National Party said everyone had to accept the status of all people living in the country as laid down in the constitution.
Awnash Bugti of the Jamhori Watan Party said fair elections could be a base for resolving the Balochistan issue.
SCBA President Yasin Azad said that a solution to Balochistan problems was not in taking suo moto actions because the court could only recover missing persons.
“Political parties have the solution to overcome hurdles being faced by the Baloch.”
Asma Jahangir, former SCBA president, said a solution to the Balochistan issue was vested with political parties. Pakistan Bar Council Vice President Akhtar Hussain asked all stakeholders to review the situation and introduce remedial measures for restoring peace in the province.
Haji Abdul Qayyum Changazi, the Hazara Qaumi Jirga president, lamented the massacre of his community.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk