Balochistan issue: Nawaz, Kaira spar on FC role
Sharif says FC should be withdrawn for free election; Kaira says govt ready to do that if sharif takes responsibility.
LAHORE:
Shrugging off the government’s cynicism over Balochistan, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he was only “fulfilling his duty” as a citizen of Pakistan because the situation in the province is crucial to the country’s stability.
“Holding free and fair election is the government’s responsibility,” Nawaz said and reiterated his call for the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) to be immediately withdrawn from the restive province to ensure transparent polls.
The PML-N chief was speaking to journalists after condoling with former Supreme Court Bar Association president and rights campaigner Asma Jahangir over her mother’s demise.
Kaira defends FC presence
Earlier in the day Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the government would withdraw the FC from Balochistan under one condition: Nawaz Sharif takes responsibility for the consequences.
Only 5% of the province is settled, the rest is under the control of the FC, Kaira told journalists at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. He added that the ruling PPP has conceded the “sins” of previous governments vis-à-vis Balochistan and has sought forgiveness from “our Baloch brothers”.
Terming Monday’s meeting between Nawaz and Jamhoori Watan Party chief Talal Akbar Bugti a “welcome development”, the information minister said the PPP believed all problems faced by the country must be addressed politically. However, he added that unlike Nawaz, the PPP never hankered after cheap popularity.
Hitting back
The PML-N chief, however, said that the government has not taken any significant step in the past four and a half years to resolve the issues faced by the Baloch people.
He said it was a key demand of the Baloch leadership that the army and FC be withdrawn from the province. Nawaz added that he favoured the formation of a grand alliance to resolve the festering issue.
He went on to add that the issue of Balochistan was important and since those who had gone missing from the province were Pakistani citizens, it was crucial to fight for their rights.
On the occasion, Jahangir said it was the first time that a Punjabi leader was speaking out so strongly for the Baloch, while supporting Nawaz’s stance over the Balochistan issue. She also found it strange that the government was demanding that Nawaz take responsibility for the situation in Balochistan while it was currently ruling the country.
Nawaz to leave for Italy
The PML-N chief was scheduled to leave late night Tuesday for Italy, where he will preside over the party’s overseas convention on October 7, his staff said. According to party officials, the PML-N chief will focus on party donations to strengthen the party’s position in the upcoming general elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.
Shrugging off the government’s cynicism over Balochistan, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he was only “fulfilling his duty” as a citizen of Pakistan because the situation in the province is crucial to the country’s stability.
“Holding free and fair election is the government’s responsibility,” Nawaz said and reiterated his call for the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) to be immediately withdrawn from the restive province to ensure transparent polls.
The PML-N chief was speaking to journalists after condoling with former Supreme Court Bar Association president and rights campaigner Asma Jahangir over her mother’s demise.
Kaira defends FC presence
Earlier in the day Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the government would withdraw the FC from Balochistan under one condition: Nawaz Sharif takes responsibility for the consequences.
Only 5% of the province is settled, the rest is under the control of the FC, Kaira told journalists at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. He added that the ruling PPP has conceded the “sins” of previous governments vis-à-vis Balochistan and has sought forgiveness from “our Baloch brothers”.
Terming Monday’s meeting between Nawaz and Jamhoori Watan Party chief Talal Akbar Bugti a “welcome development”, the information minister said the PPP believed all problems faced by the country must be addressed politically. However, he added that unlike Nawaz, the PPP never hankered after cheap popularity.
Hitting back
The PML-N chief, however, said that the government has not taken any significant step in the past four and a half years to resolve the issues faced by the Baloch people.
He said it was a key demand of the Baloch leadership that the army and FC be withdrawn from the province. Nawaz added that he favoured the formation of a grand alliance to resolve the festering issue.
He went on to add that the issue of Balochistan was important and since those who had gone missing from the province were Pakistani citizens, it was crucial to fight for their rights.
On the occasion, Jahangir said it was the first time that a Punjabi leader was speaking out so strongly for the Baloch, while supporting Nawaz’s stance over the Balochistan issue. She also found it strange that the government was demanding that Nawaz take responsibility for the situation in Balochistan while it was currently ruling the country.
Nawaz to leave for Italy
The PML-N chief was scheduled to leave late night Tuesday for Italy, where he will preside over the party’s overseas convention on October 7, his staff said. According to party officials, the PML-N chief will focus on party donations to strengthen the party’s position in the upcoming general elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.