Missing persons: CM Malik foresees gradual settlement

Says situation in Balochistan is steadily improving.

ISLAMABAD:

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik said on Monday that the situation in Balochistan was improving and the issue of missing persons would also get settled gradually.

“The cases of kidnapping for ransom, sectarian violence and car lifting have significantly decreased in Balochistan after our government took oath and the issue of missing persons will also get settled gradually,” said Dr Malik.

He was addressing a press conference at Balochistan House in Islamabad.

He said it was due to the efforts of the political provincial government and support of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that many of the province’s issues had been resolved.

To a question about forming a committee to resolve the issue of missing persons, Dr Malik said the government did not want to constitute such committees that often deliver nothing.

The CM, however, admitted that there was no formal contact with the angry Balochi nationalists fighting a bloody insurgency.



Talking about the provincial shares from centre, he said that Balochistan would adopt the reconciliatory approach for getting its pending dues from centre, but the province would not compromise on the new agreements with centre at the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The CM said the federal and provincial governments wanted to build the Gwadar Port at fast track.

“We must ensure that its benefits must be given to the people of Gwadar first then to others,” he stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2014.