As govt shies away, PML-N backs Baloch chieftain
Nawaz throws his weight behind Mengal’s six-point agenda.
ISLAMABAD:
As the government and military authorities scrambled to dismiss allegations leveled by a former chief minister of Balochistan, major opposition parties have started endorsing the six-point agenda of the estranged Baloch leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday put its weight behind Mengal’s proposal, and called for immediate steps to remove the sense of deprivation amongst the people of Balochistan.
Parallels with East Pakistan
Mengal, the chief of Balochistan National Party, held a meeting with the PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, who endorsed the former’s charter saying, “it was because of inefficient policies that our own people were offended.”
Nawaz was referring to the East Pakistan situation, with which Mengal drew a parallel, and said his charter was not different from that of Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman.
“Why shouldn’t we part our ways peacefully,” Mengal said, adding that the Baloch people would not enter into any sort of negotiations with Pakistan if his six points were not implemented.
He had earlier submitted his charter to the Supreme Court when he ended his three-year exile to attend a hearing on the Balochistan law and order case.
He identified the issue of missing persons as a serious cause of concern, and lauded the apex court for its efforts in resolving it.
The PML-N had submitted a resolution over the issue of missing persons in the National Assembly a few months ago, which led to the formation of a special committee on the subject. The committee, however, has not elected its chairman yet.
Addressing the media after the meeting with Nawaz, Mengal termed his six points as “the only medium to find a tangible solution to unrest in the province, and are not against the Constitution.”
He alleged that security agencies are responsible for the plight of his people, but refrained from naming any.
”Those forces, which have ruled the country for the last 65 years and acted as masters instead of servants and considered themselves above the Constitution, should be harnessed,” he said.
Mengal referred to the thousands of Bengalis killed in East Pakistan, and said the same was being done in his province. “It’s better to separate peacefully instead of shedding each other’s blood,” he said.
On the killing of non-Baloch in the province, Mengal said whatever is happening in Balochistan is not part of their tradition; instead, it is imported and targeting the Hazara community is part of the game, he said.
Asked if he would participate in the upcoming general elections, Mengal said elections were not a priority for the Baloch. The first priority of Baloch leaders is to recover the missing people, and stop the bloodshed.
“No country in the world holds elections during war, and Balochistan has been in a state of war for the last 12 years,” he said.
Nawaz supports Mengal
Nawaz announced his support for the efforts of the Baloch leader, and said the nation should learn from its history, so that another East Pakistan-like episode is not repeated.
Nawaz said that leaders should sit together and think about what has alienated the people of Balochistan. “Atrocities have compelled the Baloch to think about separation,” he added.
He also stressed upon the need for arresting killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti, saying it was imperative for peace in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2012.
As the government and military authorities scrambled to dismiss allegations leveled by a former chief minister of Balochistan, major opposition parties have started endorsing the six-point agenda of the estranged Baloch leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday put its weight behind Mengal’s proposal, and called for immediate steps to remove the sense of deprivation amongst the people of Balochistan.
Parallels with East Pakistan
Mengal, the chief of Balochistan National Party, held a meeting with the PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, who endorsed the former’s charter saying, “it was because of inefficient policies that our own people were offended.”
Nawaz was referring to the East Pakistan situation, with which Mengal drew a parallel, and said his charter was not different from that of Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman.
“Why shouldn’t we part our ways peacefully,” Mengal said, adding that the Baloch people would not enter into any sort of negotiations with Pakistan if his six points were not implemented.
He had earlier submitted his charter to the Supreme Court when he ended his three-year exile to attend a hearing on the Balochistan law and order case.
He identified the issue of missing persons as a serious cause of concern, and lauded the apex court for its efforts in resolving it.
The PML-N had submitted a resolution over the issue of missing persons in the National Assembly a few months ago, which led to the formation of a special committee on the subject. The committee, however, has not elected its chairman yet.
Addressing the media after the meeting with Nawaz, Mengal termed his six points as “the only medium to find a tangible solution to unrest in the province, and are not against the Constitution.”
He alleged that security agencies are responsible for the plight of his people, but refrained from naming any.
”Those forces, which have ruled the country for the last 65 years and acted as masters instead of servants and considered themselves above the Constitution, should be harnessed,” he said.
Mengal referred to the thousands of Bengalis killed in East Pakistan, and said the same was being done in his province. “It’s better to separate peacefully instead of shedding each other’s blood,” he said.
On the killing of non-Baloch in the province, Mengal said whatever is happening in Balochistan is not part of their tradition; instead, it is imported and targeting the Hazara community is part of the game, he said.
Asked if he would participate in the upcoming general elections, Mengal said elections were not a priority for the Baloch. The first priority of Baloch leaders is to recover the missing people, and stop the bloodshed.
“No country in the world holds elections during war, and Balochistan has been in a state of war for the last 12 years,” he said.
Nawaz supports Mengal
Nawaz announced his support for the efforts of the Baloch leader, and said the nation should learn from its history, so that another East Pakistan-like episode is not repeated.
Nawaz said that leaders should sit together and think about what has alienated the people of Balochistan. “Atrocities have compelled the Baloch to think about separation,” he added.
He also stressed upon the need for arresting killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti, saying it was imperative for peace in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2012.