Talk of ethnic divide in Balochistan dispelled

Governor said 'handful of people' raised the issue for an increase in their votes on the basis of ethnicity

QUETTA:

Balochistan Governor Malak Abdul Wali Kakar said on Monday there was no Baloch-Pashtun dispute in the rather stressing that only a handful of people raise this issue just to increase their votes on the basis of ethnicity.

Talking to the media here, Kakar, from the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) said that the political parties played a major role in uniting these two major ethnic groups in the province.

“There is no Baloch-Pashtun dispute. It is just a problem with a few people. I will speak for all ethnicities and people of all religions belonging to Balochistan,” Kakar told reporters.

“A few people raise the Baloch-Pashtun issues to increase their vote bank and serve their vested interests,” Kakar continued. “The political parties play a major role in uniting these two major ethnic groups of the province,” he said.

“Not only the Pashtuns and the Balochs, rather all nationalities living here, are equal,” the governor said. “We have to raise our collective voice for the rights of our citizens. For a prosperous Balochistan unity of Pashtun and Baloch groups is a must.”

Kakar stated that the government would find solutions to issues facing the province. “I am informed about the financial problems of the universities. I will meet the prime minister and the finance minister on this matter,” he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2023.