KARACHI, April 3: Jamaat-i-Islami expressing concern over the Balochistan situation has urged the government to refrain from using force and initiate dialogue with Baloch people for lasting peace.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, JI leader Professor Ghafoor Ahmad said the government was propagating that everything was fine in Balochistan while the picture portrayed by former chief minister of the province Sardar Akhtar Mengal was altogether different.

He said the Balochistan crisis was becoming more complex with each passing day and the government under the garb of enforcing its writ was using force against the masses which was threatening the country’s integrity.

He said Sardar Mengal, who was in jail, should be provided all the facilities according to his entitlement under the rules. He also sought government’s permission to meet Sardar Mengal.