20 December 2004	Monday	07 Ziqa'ad 1425

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QUETTA, Dec 19: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has said that the issue of Balochistan National Party-Mengal dissociating itself from the negotiation process concerns to the federal government and the parliamentary sub-committee. However, if a valid reason is given the quarters concerned will be advised to consider it.

Talking to newsmen after the inauguration of the new office of the Balochistan Public Service Commission here on Sunday, he said that intelligence agencies usually nabbed suspects in violent incidents to trace the real accused in order to curbs.

Asked about the BNP-M charge that while the government was holding talks to resolve issues it was at the same time, arresting political activists, the chief minister said suspects were arrested through legal procedures for interrogation in cases of subversion.

Intelligence agencies' report revealed that local people were involved in bomb blasts, including the one in the civil secretariat on Saturday. Law-enforcement agencies had to arrest suspects for completing the investigation process, he said.

He declined to comment on BNP leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal's allegation that intelligence agencies were behind the bomb blasts in the province. About the dissolution of the PSDP committee by Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar, he said the committee had been formed with good intentions to address grievances of opposition MPAs and the speaker, instead of dissolving the body, should have established his writ by addressing the demands.

Responding to a question about delay in announcing the NFC award, Jam Yousuf said the new award would make little difference to Balochistan. Allaying the province's apprehensions and making its gas development surcharge equal to that of other provinces, he added, it would resolve Balochistan's financial problems.

When it was pointed out that the provincial government had not asked the centre to waive off Balochistan's debts, the chief minister said efforts had been made in this regard, but conceded that there had been no progress.

He pointed out that Balochistan had obtained soft loans from the Asian Development Bank on two per cent interest which would be utilized for uplift programmes besides repaying the debt and interest.