Seminar urges talks with angry Baloch leaders

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar here demanded formation of a powerful representative commission to implement the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package, NFC Award and the 18th amendment.

A resolution passed on the occasion also called for bridging the trust deficit between the Baloch and the federation, a prerequisite to finding a lasting solution to the Balochistan conflict.

It said sincere negotiations should be held with angry Baloch leaders to bring them back into the national mainstream. “Military operation in the province should immediately be stopped and the so-called ‘missing persons’ should be released without further delay,” the resolution added. It urged the federation to enter into a new social contract with federating units through dialogue and political process.

The two-day seminar on “People’s perspective on Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package and the 18th amendment: implications, implementation and way forward” was jointly organised by the Sungi Development Foundation (SDF) and the Strengthening Participatory Organisations (SPO) in the National Library auditorium.

Deputy Chairman of Senate Jan Mohammad Jamali, PPP’s Senator Raza Rabbani, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, former Senator Habib Jalib Baloch, Mir Ahmadan Bugti MNA, Mohabbat Marri, and other prominent figures attended the seminar. Also in attendance were human rights and peace activists, lawyers, academicians, students, intellectuals, columnists and concerned citizens.

They resolved that the Baloch are faced with problems such as denial of right to self-determination, militarisation and state-sponsored violence, governmental transmigration policies, cultural and economic oppression, exploitation of resources and denial of the freedom of expression.

Jan Muhammad Jamali said that the province cannot be run through colonial approach. He said the conflict in Balochistan has gone through different stages over the years but now the situation is critical due to, what he called, “ongoing great game” in the region.

“The government should take serious notice of the changing situation to address the grievances of Balochistan through dialogue and political process before it’s too late,” he added.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 13^th,2010.