QUETTA:
The Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) has joined the rising tide of voices warning that the situation in Balochistan is grim, and called upon the government to hold meaningful negotiations with “legitimate Balochdi leaders” on Monday.
The demand was made during an All Parties Conference convened by the DPC in Quetta – which went ahead although all Baloch and Pashtun parties had declined to DPC’s invitation to participate. DPC Chairperson Maulana Samiul Haq read out a declaration categorically stating that they will back all of the demands of Baloch leaders, excluding independence for Balochistan.
It was also announced that DPC will mark March 9 across the country as a day of solidarity with the violence-stricken province. In addition, the council has also formed a committee to prepare a draft over the Balochistan issue, which they claim will consult all stakeholders. The committee will then propose a solution which will be handed over to the government. The draft will include the demand that the perpetrators of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder, including former president Pervez Musharraf, must be held accountable.
“The extra-judicial killings by Frontier Corps (FC), police or any other law enforcement agencies, practices of enforced disappearances and military operations in Balochistan must be ended soon. The government should ensure the implementation of its announcement about the withdrawal of the army from Balochistan,” read the declaration.
Haq lashed out at the government, saying there was no difference between the policies of Musharraf and President Asif Ali Zardari over Balochistan. He also condemned the US resolution on Balochistan saying it was an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) General Secretary Liaquat Baloch and chief of Jamaatud Dawa Hafiz Saeed also pledged support to the Balochistan cause.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Ziaul Haq) chief Ejazul Haq also chimed in, saying “The DPC will not take part in the All Party Conference being convened by the prime minister until the government takes some practical steps”.
Meanwhile, Ulema Council Chairperson Allama Tahir Ashrafi urged the Supreme Court to focus its attention solely on Baloch missing persons.
The DPC also announced that it will hold a “huge gathering” in Balochistan on April 12.
Former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Hameed Gul, Maulana Asmatullah and others also spoke on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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We have a very bad experience before. It was 2001 when Pakistan/Afghanistan defa Council was formed and Mullah Sami ul Haq became head of the council. More or less the same people and parties were there but later on the counical wad converted to a Plitical alliance namely MMA. Their election symbol book was deeclared Holly Quran and all the holly invisible ISI, MI Angels helped the cycle riding Taliban and Mullah became MNAs and MPAs. Five years of MMA provided the required grooming and nourshing the Taliban and Al Qaida who ruinced Pashtoonkhwa. Today if we see sucide bombers and IEDs, this becuase of MMA support for the Taliban. They are the killers of Pakistani in general and Pashtoon in Particular. I wish them all the distruction and inhilation.
Why opposition parties are not sitting together on a platform, they should be taking the matter seriously
DPC before coming to Quetta said that it will do jihad in balochistan against US. People in balochistan dont want civil war by DPC. Its the clear message given by nationalist parties given tomorrow.
@Lala jie pls refer to related news by ET (http://bit.ly/xAhwEI ,Feb. 27) where it is reported that it is not attended by all parties. My problem is with heading only, where they add Not before APC. Rest of the news is fine.
@Umar Get your facts right. Difae Pakistan Council or DPC is a council and they called All Parties Conference or APC. Hence, DPC itself is not APC nor they tagged itself as APC, but they organized APC. What's wrong if all parties didn't attend APC, though they all were invited.
@HeartSpeaks & @AliSyed ; You cant call it an All Parties Conference if the only party present was the DPC!
My Heart speaks too///Agree wid you ..E.T has double and prejudice standerds
@MyHeartSpeaks: Why DPC tags itself APC if it is not? Hypocrites.
@MyHeartSpeaks: Well if it is not attended by all parties, that, too, should be reported. As a reader, I have to right to know that this so called "All Parties" was not all parties at all.
well atleast they are trying to do something positive
Devils preaching peace ??? Double standards
Why ET is so judgmental when it comes to reporting any news from right-wing. Look at the heading (Not) All Parties Conference. You should only report news, not to give any opinion whether it is 'Not All Parties' or 'All Parties' Conference. The news should be this way "All Parties Conference: DPC backs negotiations with Baloch leaders." full stop.