Dialogue termed only solution to Balochistan's problems

Human rights activists and senior journalists have emphasised that the resolution to Balochistan's longstanding issues lies in peaceful dialogue.

Baloch leaders stressed that they accept the writ of the state and reiterated their commitment to peaceful struggle, asking the state to listen to them.

They demanded that true representatives of the Baloch people be given space in the parliament and that all missing persons be recovered. If anyone is accused of a crime, they should be presented in court under due legal process.

These views were expressed during a seminar held on Sunday at Karachi Press Club, organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

The event marked 16 years since the enforced disappearance of Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch, father of central committee leader Sami Deen Baloch. Speakers included Sami Deen Baloch herself, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt, BYC's Wahab Baloch, Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili, senior journalists Wusatullah Khan and Mazhar Abbas, Karachi Bachao Tehreek convener Khurram Ali, and women's rights activist Sheema Kermani, who highlighted the plight of missing persons through her performance.

Sami Deen Baloch appealed to the state to acknowledge and resolve the issue of enforced disappearances. "We uphold and believe in the sovereignty of the state and want it to act justly with us," she said. Mazhar Abbas remarked that had the recommendations from the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan initiative been implemented timely, many of these problems could have been resolved.