Source: Daily Times

* Baloch leaders waiting for action instead of words
* Former governor proposes general amnesty for arrested Baloch

By Irfan Ali

KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government has decided to offer a comprehensive package to Balochistan to resolve the problems of the largest province of the country.

However, Balochistan-based parties and leaders are waiting for action instead of the words that they had previously heard from the former ruling coalition. “I think that the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission will formally help resolve all problems of Balochistan,” Mir Baz Khetran, former federal minister from Balochistan, told Daily Times.

Khetran is a member of the committee PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari formed to help Balochistan-based PPP leaders in their efforts for the formation of a coalition government. He said it was not easy to restore peace and control law and order, because of the mismanagement perpetrated by the previous government. He said the PPP co-chairman would himself lead the reconciliatory efforts in Balochistan.

Jamil Soomro, a member of the PPP federal council, said that Asif Zardari had talked to Attaullah Mengal on the phone when Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani had met former chief minister Mengal in Karachi.

Attaullah Mengal founded the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM), an alliance of provinces-based parties that asserted their identity as federating units instead of provincial identities. He had announced his retirement from active politics but remained involved in political activities. His son Akhtar Baloch, president of the Balochistan National Party, was arrested.

“Although we have not held meetings, I have been in contact with Raisani by phone. He is a good man and is sincere in his pledge,” Rauf Mengal, Balochistan National Party’s former MNA, said.

Suggestions: Talking to Daily Times, former Balochistan governor Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch proposed that all the arrested Baloch should be released and government should announce general amnesty for them. He suggested that a judicial commission should be formed to decide if the military operation in Balochistan was justified.

Earlier, PPP slain chairwoman Benazir Bhutto had assigned Lashkar Raisani of PPP Balochistan to initiate dialogue with Balochistan leaders. Raisani had promised them that a direct interaction with Benazir would also be made to finalise the pros and cons of a reconciliatory formula. Unfortunately, Benazir was assassinated and PPP’s efforts were stalled.

Zardari made a public apology but many Balochistan-based leaders recalled that the former ruling coalition was also apologetic and maintained that a verbal apology would not help address their grievances and complaints. Abdul Qadir Baloch also proposed that Nawab Akbar Bugti’s family should be compensated for his death.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Awami National Party, who are partners of the PPP in the ruling coalition at the Centre, have also endorsed the policy of dialogue and reconciliation with Balochistan’s parties.

The PML-N and ANP leaders had earlier said that government formation was not completed in Balochistan so they needed to wait for some time. They have expressed a firm belief that the modalities for a Balochistan package can be finalised within the first 100 days of the formation of government on March 31.

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Tags: Asif Zardari, balochistan, PPP, Truth and Reconciliation Commission