Missing persons: PM to broach issue with ‘powerful quarters’

QUETTA:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday pledged to raise his voice on the issue of Baloch missing persons, saying he would raise the issue with the "powerful quarters".

He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Quetta-Karachi highway in what was his maiden visit to Balochistan. He also chaired a high-level meeting on the law and order situation in the provincial capital.

Shehbaz assured that he would raise his voice about the issue of missing persons. “I want to see laptops in the hands of Baloch students rather than weapons,” he said.

The prime minister added that his government has planned a number of development schemes to bring Balochistan at par with other parts of the country. Balochistan belongs to Baloch people, Pashtuns and other ethnic groups and covers half of the country in terms of area.

"We want to address the grievances of the masses here," he said.

Striking an impassioned tone, the premier said that he has held meetings with the leaders who said that “although development projects were important, it was the issue of missing persons that called for immediate solution”.

"Today, I'm making a promise. I will speak for missing persons along with you," he vowed. "We will raise the issue with powerful quarters. And we will talk to them on the basis of law, justice and merit."

He said that despite having less and scattered population as compared to other areas of the country, the province was still not developed.

In his address, the premier said that he was "apologetic" to the people of the province.

"Balochistan is Pakistan's biggest province geographically, but despite having a small population, it was left behind.”

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"Allah has blessed the province with an abundance of natural resources. But the benefits its residents got from these resources were equivalent to salt in flour," he regretted.

He regretted that the province had huge untapped potential and natural resources. "In fact, the projects that were initiated here have been surrounded with litigations."

"Look at Reko Diq. It remained the subject of litigation for a year, and billions [of rupees] were wasted. Not just money, so many years were wasted," he added.

'Development among top priorities'

Chairing a high-level meeting on the law and order situation in the provincial capital, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation.

Shehbaz recalled that the people of Balochistan have faced the brunt of terrorism in the past and scores of precious human lives have been lost in the terrorist attacks. He said that peace has returned to the province following the sacrifices of the security forces in the province.

Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo, acting Governor Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Maulana Asad Mehmood, Agha Hassan Baloch, Maulana Abdul Wasey and other high-level officials were also present on the occasion.

The prime said that the development of Balochistan was among the top priorities of his government, adding that the talented manpower of the province had been a precious asset to the country.

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He directed to ensure monitoring of the ongoing uplift projects in the province.

The prime minister also held a separate meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and coalition partner Muhammad Akhtar Mengal, earlier in the day, where they discussed matters pertaining to development projects in Balochistan including the law and order situation.

The chief minister briefed the prime minister regarding important provincial matters.

On this occasion, the premier said the federal government gives the highest importance to the development of Balochistan.