KARACHI, March 30: Chief of the National Party Dr Hayee Baloch has described the March 17 attack in Dera Bugti as ‘pre-planned’ and alleged that it was aimed at eliminating Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Mohammad Akbar Bugti.
Accusing the government of sidelining the basic issues of Balochistan, the NP leader alleged that the federal government’s still had colonial approach which was evident from its attitude as it was not ready even to discuss the issues.
A former senator, Dr Hayee Baloch said the government had deliberately complicated the Dera Bugti issue by mobilizing armed forces, thus creating a situation of armed conflict.
Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, he said it had now become clear that the government was not serious a political solution to the Balochistan problems through dialogue. On the contrary, he added, Baloch leaders were being subjected to threats amid military build-up.
He stressed that the federal government must recognize Balochistan people’s due rights on the natural resources of their province.
He said his party believed in political solution to all issues pertaining to Balochistan and was against the use of force. He stressed on taking all political forces into confidence in this regard.
He claimed that after the March 17 attack, the government had put all the issues in cold storage.
Dr Baloch wondered that the parliamentary committee on Balochistan had made no significant progress so far despite the fact that the situation in the troubled areas of the province had been aggravating.
He regretted that the government had not changed its unpopular policies as it was bent upon constructing cantonments and converting Baloch populace into minority.
Condemning the March 17 attack as a shameless act, the NP leader said the government must mend its ways. He also slammed the role of coastguards in the province, saying that the agency treated the local people as if they all were criminals.
Protesting against the recent incident of firing in Gwadar, he alleged that women and children had always been subjected to humiliation on the pretext of ‘search’.
He was of the view that Balochistan issues could be resolved only when the constitutional rights of its people were recognized. He called for granting of due rights to all oppressed people of Pakistan.
He criticized the rulers for creating a bad image of Balochistan people vis-à-vis the recent incidents and developments in Balochistan, and clarified: “We are not fighting for a few sardars. Rather, it is the government which was patronizing majority of sardars for its own objectives.
“We are not against development if it is meant only for the progress and prosperity of people, but we oppose subjugation and colonization in the name of development.”
He appealed to all democratic forces to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan by making the Ponam’s March 31 strike a success.
In his comments on Balochistan issue, Mr Kachkol Ali, opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly told Dawn that except for the disengagement of forces in Dera Bugti, the overall situation in the province was unchanged.
He said that the government had not approached the four-party alliance of national parties for a dialogue. He said that the March 17 attack was clearly aimed against Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Kachkol Ali was of the view that Balochistan issue could be resolved by recognizing political and economic rights of its people through constitutional amendments.
He also called for an independent judiciary, saying that without ensuring this, democracy could not flourish in the country.
He urged the government to take all Baloch leaders into confidence if it sincerely wanted to resolve the issue.
