Raisani again offers olive branch to insurgents

Governor and Chief Minister reiterate dialogue offer to angry Baloch elements and pledge to protect legitimate rights.


Shezad Baloch October 30, 2010

QUETTA: Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani have reiterated the dialogue offer to angry Baloch elements, especially the insurgents, and pledged to protect their legitimate rights.

They were talking to the media separately after a passing-out parade held in Quetta on Friday. As many as 4,000 youth from Balochistan were recruited in the Pakistan Army, as the passing-out parades were held simultaneously in Zhob, Sibi, Khuzdar, Sui and Kashmore.

Nawab Magsi, who was also the chief guest on the occasion, said that the army recruitments were not only encouraging the Baloch youth to become soldiers, but also helping normalise the province’s situation. He added that more recruitments will also address the economic problems of the Baloch people.

Nawab Magsi also praised the army’s performance in Balochistan, saying it was playing a pivotal role in educating Baloch youth besides recruiting them in the Army.

When questioned about his role as a tribal chief, the governor responded: “Being a Baloch my tradition called for resorting to vengeance. If someone kills my people, I will retaliate in a similar manner because I am a Baloch.”

Referring to elements who are fighting  among the hills, Nawab Aslam Raisani said that the government invites the angry people to negotiate with the government, assuring that their legitimate grievances will be addressed.

Replying to a question, the Balochistan CM said that the federal government so far had not given him clear mandate to hold dialogue with the angry Baloch leaders, who were fighting in the hills for their rights.

“Once I am given a clear mandate, I will make a formal offer for dialogue,” he said, adding that he had already invited the angry Baloch leaders to take advantage of the national reconciliation process mitigated by the government. Referring to the law and order situation, he said that it had become a colossal problem which was not confined to Balochistan alone.

Responding to a query, he said: “The situation can be gauged by reading daily newspapers which illustrate that targeted killings and bomb blasts have become a routine matter. The provincial governments are making all-out efforts to overcome the issue,” he added. He suggested that all federating units should be given powers in accordance with the Pakistan Resolution, which was passed in 1940, enabling the provinces to become strong and autonomous.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

Gul Khan M 2 | 13 years ago | Reply raisani should also offer olive branch to the peace loving people of the province of balochistan who are at the mercy of kidnappers, robbers, car lifters ,private armies and so called youth forces emanating from the houses of the sardars and war lords. it has become hell to travel from quetta to karachi or quetta to jaffarabad by road. areas have been divided by gangs of various sardars for kidnapping for ransom, car lifting and robberies. once a person is kidnapped, the sardars of the area becomes a go between the kidnappers and the abducted families. they get a ransom. keeps their share and release the person. very recently mangochar , kadkucha , kalat and khuzdar has become the main hub of these criminal activities. local populace can name these groups on finger tips, however innocent police is so naive to know them. the trio of criminals, sardars and police is bringing misery to the people. very soon the transport running on these roads will fade away.
Pakistani | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan and Balochistan Zindabad.
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