Doubts about western route ‘proved right’

BAP leader says previous govt played ‘tricks’ with people of Balochistan

QUETTA: Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) founder Saeed Ahmed Hashmi has expressed concerns over the disclosure by Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Khusro Bakhtiyar about the negligence of western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) made by the previous government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BAP leader said the reservations of political parties and people of Balochistan regarding the western route of CPEC proved right.

Once the reservations of political parties started gaining strength about the western route, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif performed an inauguration ceremony at Mugal Khot, apparently pretending to overcome the reservations of the political parties, he added.



“It was later disclosed that the route via Zhob to Dera Ismail Khan was in fact an old project of Asian Development Bank, and it had nothing to do with the western route,” said Hashmi.

And, the planning minister recently denied the existence of western route in CPEC, he added.

The BAP leader said it was similar to a non-serious game and a trick that Centre had played with the people of Balochistan.

He called this act of previous government “injustice with the people of Balochistan” — this act would only increase the deprivations of people residing in Balochistan.

“CPEC may not bring the expected results,” he said.

He demanded of the government not to lose the last chance of ending the deprivation of the people of Balochistan and usher in peace and prosperity.