United in ideology: Bizenjo calls for land reforms
Announces union with Awami Party.
Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM
ISLAMABAD:
As Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo announced the merger of the Awami Party with the National Party (NP) on Saturday, a fresh appeal was made for extensive land reforms in Balochistan.
“Ending the ‘sardari nizam’ (feudal system) and enforcing agricultural tax is crucial for progress and prosperity in Balochistan,” the senator said at a news conference in Islamabad. He told reporters that land reforms were part of both NP’s constitution and the ten-point agenda agreed with the Awami Party prior to the merger.
Bizenjo said there was also a need to end extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. He added that Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch’s government was pursuing the issue with the federal government and such incidents had been drastically reduced due to their efforts. “No incidents of extra-judicial killing have surfaced in the last six months and hopefully the missing persons’ issue will also be resolved in the coming months.”
The senator held past military regimes responsible for creating trouble in Balochistan and pushing the province towards extreme backwardness.
“Pakistan’s ruling class, particularly the military regimes, played a key role in pushing the nation towards poverty and lawlessness,” he added.
Bizenjo said the Balochistan government was trying to initiate talks with nationalist rebels – including Brahamdagh Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti – and bring them into mainstream politics. However, he added that they could do nothing if the rebels refused to talk.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2013.
As Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo announced the merger of the Awami Party with the National Party (NP) on Saturday, a fresh appeal was made for extensive land reforms in Balochistan.
“Ending the ‘sardari nizam’ (feudal system) and enforcing agricultural tax is crucial for progress and prosperity in Balochistan,” the senator said at a news conference in Islamabad. He told reporters that land reforms were part of both NP’s constitution and the ten-point agenda agreed with the Awami Party prior to the merger.
Bizenjo said there was also a need to end extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. He added that Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch’s government was pursuing the issue with the federal government and such incidents had been drastically reduced due to their efforts. “No incidents of extra-judicial killing have surfaced in the last six months and hopefully the missing persons’ issue will also be resolved in the coming months.”
The senator held past military regimes responsible for creating trouble in Balochistan and pushing the province towards extreme backwardness.
“Pakistan’s ruling class, particularly the military regimes, played a key role in pushing the nation towards poverty and lawlessness,” he added.
Bizenjo said the Balochistan government was trying to initiate talks with nationalist rebels – including Brahamdagh Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti – and bring them into mainstream politics. However, he added that they could do nothing if the rebels refused to talk.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2013.