Balochistan crisis: Awan urges judiciary to address people’s grievances

Supports general amnesty, asks disgruntled Baloch leaders to come into the parliament.

LAHORE: Former law minister Babar Awan has urged the judiciary to address the grievances and miseries of Balochistan’s people and start a summary trial in the Akbar Bugti murder case.

“President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani will negotiate with all stakeholders in person but the judiciary has a major role to play,” Awan told reporters outside the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday. “The Pakistan Peoples Party government has discussed the issue of missing persons and held many meeting the Balochistan chief minister and governor. Gilani especially chaired a meeting to discuss the issue of extrajudicial killings. It was decided that all problems must be solved through dialogue instead of use of force and deterrence.”

Awan, a senior PPP leader, said that hundreds of Baloch youths were provided employment opportunities and over Rs85 billion were sanctioned for the province’s development after the seventh National Finance Commission award was constituted.

When asked about the proposed all-parties conference on Balochistan, he declined to give a date but said that it will address the difference of opinion on the matter. “All political forces should be united and jointly ponder over a solution for the Balochistan crisis. The prime minister has constituted a committee, which will submit its recommendations.”

He said that the government is also contemplating calling a joint session of parliament exclusively over Balochistan.

Supporting general amnesty in Balochistan, Awan said the move was a need of the hour. “Instead of going into the mountains, the disgruntled Baloch should come into the house [parliament].”