April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

QUETTA, April 2: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has called for a roundtable conference to develop consensus on issues between the federation and provinces.

Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Mr Achakzai stressed the need for solving problems through consultations, which he said, would help in adopting the needed constitutional amendments.

He also proposed an assembly for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and cautioned that a unilateral repeal of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) would cause difficulties in running the affairs of the tribal areas.

Mr Achakzai asserted that in the elections since 1970 the people of Balochistan and the NWFP had always voted for resolving political issues while the voters in Sindh and Punjab had focussed on economic issues.

He said that without giving autonomy and control of resources to the provinces, there would be no political stability in the country.

Mr Achakzai said a roundtable conference would provide an opportunity to political forces outside parliament, particularly the groups in Balochistan, to discuss contentious issues and evolve consensus so that parliament could adopt amendments in the Constitution.

He said peace in Fata could not be established till Afghanistan was recognised as sovereign and independent state.

HUNGER STRIKE: The condition of Baloch Students Organisation leader Mohinuddin Baloch, who has been on a hunger strike since Sunday, deteriorated on Wednesday.

A doctor visiting the student leader said his blood pressure was quite low.