PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Friday endorsed the points raised by baloch leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Khan blamed a non-representative Balochistan government for the deteriorating security condition in the troubled province, reminding that the real political stakeholders in Balochistan had boycotted elections and that the incumbent assembly was full of corrupt politicians who were only interested in plundering public money.
“We strongly believe that all political parties should be allowed to function freely to prepare the stage for a representative assembly. They can then concentrate on emergency measures to redress the grievances of the people of Balochistan,” said Khan.
Commenting over the alleged covert and overt military operations in the troubled province, Khan believed military action against Pakistanis did not provide any solutions, rather it was a destructive process. He added that the province has faced five brutal military operations, each of which Khan pointed out, he opposed vehemently.
Seeking the light in the fast darkening scenario of Balochistan, the PTI chief said that even though the damage was extensive, it could still be repaired. He added that the issue of death squads and missing persons was alarming for the Baloch people where socio-economic indicators have already fallen to their lowest lowest levels.
Appealing for the arrest of culprits in missing person cases, he also said that due to lack of data, families of thousands of missing people had no idea about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Imran Khan further said that murderers of the former Governor of Balochistan Sardar Akbar Bugti should be brought to book.
COMMENTS (30)
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This reminds me of a book titled 'The Tigers of Balochistan', written by Sylvia Matheson (published 1967), that epitomizes the Baluchi chieftains like Bugtis', Megals' and Marris' approach to life. Late Nawab Akbar Bugti (killed by Pakistani military in 2006), who was twenty-one when Matheson spoke to him in the 1960s. She was questioning him on his casual statement to her, reminding her that he had killed his first man at the age of twelve. "About this man you killed — er, why?" "Oh that!" he responded as he sipped his tea, "Well, the man annoyed me. I've forgotten what it was about now, but I shot him dead. I've rather a hasty temper you know, but under tribal law of course it wasn't a capital offense, and, in any case, as the eldest son of the Chieftain I was perfectly entitled to do as I pleased in our own territory. We enjoy absolute sovereignty over our people and they accept this as part of their tradition."
http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/08/tale-of-tribal-terror.html
@Sameer: imran actually said that he is agaist any milltalry opration including 90's in karachi.
i m PMLn supporter. For God sake lets not play politics on balochistan and karachi issue. PTI and PMLn shud join hands as PTI cant fight establishment alone and will divide vote bank of PMLn. PTI is an unproved hypothesis and its credibility is limited to credibility of few surveys, which are also changing now. please join hands opposition.
So heartened to see IK backing the rights of Baluchis.
Whilst I dont agree with much of his slogans, this gesture alone on the surface is a massive sign that perhaps IK is not as close to establishment as one likes to think and is genuinely concerned on the situation of Baluchistan.
Thanks to IK and for those that advised him to take this stance !
@scholar: At the first instance of raising eyebrows by the USA, both the PTI and MQM will rush to change their pants. That is what concerns me. Salams
@Sameer:
Saemeer, Imran Khan that thousand times he is against military operation. In capital talk he said many time sitting next to MQM.
@Sameer: Why should he. Had that operation been allowed to continue Karachi would have become a clean city. Once again an operation needed, this time an even bigger one. Sadly no democratic govt will have the guts to do it.
The one and only Great Khan! Allah is with you....
What all did these patriots, including grandy Bugti did when they were in power, let us count. Each one of them is fully armed and caught with illegal weapons given to them by the Indian agencies, whereas they don't get tired of blaming ISI, isn't joke. Every now and then they keep killing Punjabis, Hazaras, Shias, just to create their nuisance value and demand BHATTA. All those, who have not seen these jokers in their real form, when they are in their areas, cannot understand the joke. These are Shareefs, who are just trying to create more nuisance with their connivance to facilitate the manoeuvres of their Private Limited Political Party, directorship of which, has already been distributed among their family members, i.e.brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, son-in-laws and other close relatives. Now it is their turn to claim that they would bring / strengthen this so called 'Democracy', which has been destroyed by the present Pvt Ltd Party of Bibi & Baba. Khan Sahib is just rig ma-rolling his politics and trying to get in step with others.
Sameer
The victims & the attackers of 90s operation, met in lahore previous day in a very good mood.
The victims spend a very good time with military ruler few years back.
Vote for PTI! Vote for Change!
People of pakistan need to show their sincerity to the baluchis by reaching out to the baloch people. How about Imran khan setting up a "Pakistan loves Baluchistan" fund.
Like shaukat khanum, pakistanis locally and abroad can contribute to this fund for funding low income households in baluchistan. Instead of giving these funds to baluch politicians, these funds should be disbursed directly to diferent households in baluchistan similar to the theme of BISP. It will show the sincerity of people of pakistan to baluchistan instead of just empty words and no action. Time to act now before it's too late.
Sir Imran Khan is the only hope who can unite Pakistan once again after the independence. The way things are going with OUR BALUCHI brothers really hurts every Sindhi, Punjabi and Pushtun. We have already lost Bengali brothers. I pray this shouldnt repeat again. Balouchistan is our right hand, a dear brother and a treasure undiscovered.
Imran khan has guts to take the punjabi army by its horn. Good for the country.
@Sameer: As a karachite, i can tell you after that operation, karachi became a much more peaceful place
Its refreshing to hear Khan's voice on the issue. Once political forces converge, palatable solutions to the problem will follow.
good statement by khan sahib
We should concentrate deeply now on Balochistan
Balochistan Government is a bunch of incompetent idiots...who just came to power because of the boycott of other sane voices in the province..!
Does Mr. Khan have the principles and the guts to say the same about the military operation started in Karachi in 1992 that ran through most of the 90s? Something that was carried out on the basis of fake allegations and resulted in missing persons as well as the loss of lives of thousands.
KHAN is great
Now copying PML N????