Says democratic forces not raising their voices against injustice in Balochistan.
QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD:
Sardar Akhtar Khan Mengal, chief of his own faction of the Balochistan National Party, appealed to the European Union to reconsider its decision of not sending poll observers to Balochistan.
He said the centre was keeping the EU from monitoring elections in the province so that polls could easily be manipulated. “The establishment will oppose the move to uncover the sins of the functionaries in Balochistan,” he claimed.
He also blasted political parties and democratic forces for “failing to raise their full voice against injustices to the Baloch people.”
Speaking to the press at Mengal House on Thursday, he said the democratic forces avoided naming those really responsible for the unlawful actions taking place in Balochistan, and called upon them to expose those elements publicly.
Also present on this occasion were Mir Mohammad Ismail Pirakzai and Mir Juma Khan Kubdani, along with other senior leaders, who have recently resigned from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to join the BNP-M.
Mengal said that the “GHQ brand of democracy” was currently flourishing in the country, and that it would continue to do so, unless drastic measures were taken. “It will not be a good omen for Pakistan and its people,” he said.
The BNP-M chief stressed the sacrifices rendered by his party workers for the Baloch people, and warned the “establishment” against keeping his party away from the political and democratic struggle.
Moreover, Mengal ridiculed the previous coalition government, labelling it an ‘unruly crowd’. He said its leaders had usurped public funds intended for major welfare schemes. “Such a crowd cannot be called an organised government,” he remarked.
Seat adjustment in Balochistan
Responding to questions about seat adjustment, Mengal said the BNP-M has formed a committee, headed by party vice president Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini, to take a decision on this issue.
This week, the PML-N leadership offered Mengal the provincial chief minister slot if the party wins the coming elections. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President and former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Balochistan on Wednesday and put forth several proposals.
Shahbaz told Mengal that besides the offer of the CM slot, PML-N would have its candidates vacate two Quetta seats, PB 4 and PB5, in favour of the BNP-M.
Shahbaz also offered to have the NA-259 seat vacated for Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) head Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
Similarly, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP)’s chief Talal Bugti was offered the PB-1 seat that the PML-N’s new entrant, Tahir Mehmood, would have to give up.
The former CM Punjab also assured the Baloch leaders that his party is not interested in alliances with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) at the Balochistan level, and particularly in PB 6, which falls in Quetta.
Sources also claimed that PML-N’s deal with PkMAP shocked many of the PML-N’s local office bearers, because if NA 259 Quetta was offered to Achakzai, none of the PML-N candidates will be able to stand against him. Other than this, two provincial assembly seats, PB 6 and 3, have also been promised to PkMAP.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.
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