Sharif calls for healing wounds of Balochistan people

Nawaz Sharif says no govt can resolve Balochistan’s problems by terrorising people.

QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif at a press conference here on Saturday said no government can resolve Balochistan’s problems by terrorising people.

Sharif said that increasing incidents of targeted killings and the recovery of corpses of political activists had further worsened the law and order situation in the province. “People of other provinces are also distressed by the volatile situation in Balochistan. The government must take every step to address the problems and that too, politically,” he said.

Criticising Musharraf and blaming him for the unrest in Balochistan, the PML-N chief said: “It is matter of great concern that Musharraf, who had killed Nawab Bugti and pushed the country to the brink of destruction with his wrong decisions and policies, is saying that he will do the same things if given an opportunity to rule again.”

Sharif said because of the former dictator’s wrong decisions, people picked up arms and took to the hills to struggle for their rights. “I (have) always talked about Balochistan and its problems and will continue to say that the (province’s) issues must be addressed peacefully.”

When he was asked what the PML-N had done for the province during its tenure, the PML-N chief avoided answering the question and only said that he had appointed Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Akhtar Mengal as chief minister, whose tenure lasted nine months.

Sharif said that people are leaving the province and even the country because of security concerns, inflation and unemployment. “The government must review its policy. It will have to take revolutionary steps to overcome the crises. I have sent a letter to the president and made many suggestions, which need to be adopted. I am waiting for a response,” he said.

Commenting on the blasphemy charges against a Christian woman Aasia Bibi, who was recently sentenced to death, Sharif said it was a sensitive issue and people should avoid discrimination and should be impartial in this case.

Sharif did not give a clear answer when asked about the so-called Punjabi Taliban and said all provinces are facing security problems and strict action should be taken against terrorists.

Criticising the reformed general sales tax (RGST), he said it is ironical that instead of preventing embezzlement and misuse of funds, the government intends to impose more taxes.

“If the government does not waste funds and decreases expenditure,  then I think there will be no need to impose new taxes or beg for loans from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund or Friends of Democratic Pakistan,” he added.

Commenting on reports about the presence of US troops in Quetta, the former prime minister said: “The presence of Americans is against the country’s sovereignty and people should be told the truth rather than adopting Musharraf’s policy of hiding the facts,” he said.

Earlier, the meeting of PML-N’s provincial organising committee was marred by uproar when various groups shouted slogans against each other. However, security guards intervened and managed to calm party workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2010.