Passing the buck: Awan urges judiciary to help solve the Balochistan riddle

Former law minister calls for general amnesty in the province.


Our Correspondent February 29, 2012

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice-President Babar Awan has called upon the judiciary to perform its ‘due role’ in resolving the issues facing Balochistan and start a summary trial of the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case.

Speaking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly, Awan said it was the PPP-led government’s initiative to work towards a solution of the Balochistan issue. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would talk to all stakeholders of Balochistan, in this regard, he added. He urged the judiciary to follow suit and address the grievances of the people of the province.

Awan said that a general amnesty in Balochistan was the need of the hour.

He urged the disgruntled Baloch leaders to come in the house (parliament) instead of going into the mountains.

“There are a few incidents occurring in Balochistan on a daily basis, like [they do] in Lahore and in Islamabad, the PPP government will definitely end this as well,” he said.

The former law minister further said that hundreds of jobs have been awarded to unemployed Baloch youths and following the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, more than Rs85 billion has been sanctioned for Balochistan.

The prime minister, he said, has formed a committee, which would submit its recommendations, and added that the government was seriously considering convening a joint session of parliament exclusively over Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Zafir Hafeez | 12 years ago | Reply issue of bolchistan is very serious but this government is incapable of solving it, they kept on blaming mushraf entire period of their government and even now they are filing cases against him this is not the solution of bolchistan's insurgency. Reconciliation is possible only with those who are dropping down their weapons and admit the existence of government's law and order.
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