04 November 2004	Thursday	20 Ramazan 1425

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QUETTA, Nov 3: The Secretary-General of ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, has said that a positive change in the attitude and policies of the federal government would help in resolving the issues of Balochistan through political dialogue.

Speaking at an Iftar-dinner hosted by the Association for the Integrated Development of Balochistan here on Wednesday evening, he said that wrong policies pursued by Islamabad in the past were the main cause of Balochistan's problems.

"Old policies and attitudes cannot continue anymore. We must adopt democratic attitude as the rights of all the four units of the federation are equal," Mr Mushahid said.

He said that all issues could be resolved through adopting democratic approach and negotiations. The government, he recalled, had constituted a parliamentary sub-committee for resolving all issues confronting the province.

"We want to take up these issues for running the federation democratically," the PML leader said, adding that the government was sincere in resolving the issues of the province.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of the National Party, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, said that it was a good omen that the rulers had changed their attitude towards Balochistan. However, he called for change in the attitude of the 'real rulers'.

Referring to Balochistan problems, he said that the people of the province had been deprived of their due rights during last 57 years.

The Secretary-General of the Jamhoori Watan Party, Agha Shahid Hussian Bugti, speaking on the occasion, said that the people of Balochistan did not expect anything from the parliamentary committees. Despite this, he added the nationalist parties were taking part in the negotiation process.

PRESS TALK: Earlier, talking to newsmen in Quetta, Mr Mushahid Hussain Syed said that the Balochistan issues would be resolved amicably through mutual understanding, consultation and political dialogue.

He arrived from Islamabad along with the 28-member parliamentary sub-committee on Balochistan here on Wednesday.

He said that the committee would prepare its findings and report by Jan 7 next. He said that it was a matter of great happiness that a process of political negotiation had been started on the issue.

"It is a great chance for all of us to resolve the problems of Balochistan through consensus and political negotiations," he said, and added that the government and all other political groups were serious in finding out the solution to the Balochistan problems.