File photo of Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is visiting Balochistan this week in an effort to use his Baloch connection to convince disgruntled Baloch leaders to participate in general elections.
It will be premier Khoso’s first official visit to Quetta where he will be meeting various Baloch leaders, urging them to participate in the upcoming elections.
“Yes, the prime minister will undertake Balochistan’s visit this week,” confirmed Prime Minister Press Secretary Shafqat Jalil.
Khoso will leave for Quetta tomorrow (Wednesday) and return to Islamabad on April 7, officials said, adding after this visit the premier will be visiting other provincial capitals.
During his stay in Quetta, he will meet Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Ghaus Bukhsh Barozai and leaders of other political parties to discuss security arrangements for the next general elections. Khoso is expected to meet leaders of the National Party, Balochistan National Party, Hazara Democratic Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Awami, Pakistan Muslim League-N, National Party-Mengal, Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F.
He is likely to meet Akhtar Mengal, chief of BNP-Mengal to address his reservations over the election matters in the province. Both leaders will discuss the options on how to convince the scions of three tribal chieftains to participate in elections.
Deputy Chief of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Abdul Rahim Mandokhail welcomed Khoso’s plan saying, “His [Khoso] visit will pave the way for peaceful elections in Balochistan.”
Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package
The caretaker prime minister has directed all ministries and divisions of the federal government to fill the remaining 3,021 vacancies available to persons holding Balochistan domicile under the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan (AHB) package before the elections.
Officials familiar with the development told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that Khoso wants to see the AHB package implemented. The outgoing government had introduced AHB some four years ago. Khoso has directed secretary establishment division to finalise the process of filling in the 7,582 vacancies promised under the AHB package. Some 4,561 have already been filled.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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shame on those who kill and incite young innocent people to engage in killing Punjabis settled in balochistan. why to meet with BSO or Akhtar Mengal or Murree or Bugti? Some of these are open murderers and some hidden in a democratic robe.
@salma lets hope for something better and we should appreciate his courage.
but they are not in Quetta!
He is scheduled to meet with all the parties who are contesting elections. What about meeting with BNM, BRP and BSO representatives?
The caretakers like the former government are clutching at imaginary straws. Those who matter are not in Quetta and are not up for talks. Those they will talk to are already bending over backwards to be part of the process but sadly they are not the answer to Balochistan problem.