ISLAMABAD, April 20: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday set up a committee to convene an all-party conference (APC) on Balochistan for addressing the grievances of its people and bringing them into the national mainstream.

Mr Zardari himself heads the committee which comprises PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badar, Balochistan chapter president Mir Lashkari Raisani, MNA Ijaz Jhakrani, Senator Dr Babar Awan and deputy general secretary of the Balochistan chapter, Saadullah, says a press release issued by the PPP media cell.

The committee has been tasked to contact leaders of all political parties and other groups and people concerned to attend the conference to launch a concerted effort for bringing normality to the province.

MNA Ijaz Jhakrani will hand over invitations signed by the PPP co-chairman to the heads of political parties.

The date for the all-party conference will be finalised in consultation with other political parties. However, it is hoped that it would be held within 10 days.

Mr Zardari said it was imperative to develop national consensus for addressing the problems and grievances of the people of Balochistan.

He said the Pakistan People’s Party had already taken the first step by apologising to the people of the province for discriminatory treatment meted out to them in the past.

“But mere apology is not enough and concrete steps are needed to be taken to translate the spirit into reality,” he said.

He expressed the hope that all political parties would join hands on this critical national issue for saving the federation.

He said that provincial autonomy, mysterious kidnappings of political activists, detention of political workers, grinding poverty, increasing militarisation of the province, undertaking mega projects without addressing concerns of the people and increasing isolation of its people were the issues besetting the province.

“We must develop a national consensus to address these issues urgently,” he said.

Reacting to the PPP’s decision to call the APC, the PML-Q said it would support any move aimed at addressing the grievances of the people of Balochistan.

The party’s secretary information, Senator Tariq Azim, told Dawn thatif invited the PML-Q would attend the APC.

Mr Azim said that it was not something new and an initiative had been taken by party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain by forming two committees on Balochistan, one headed by Wasim Sajjad and the other by Mushahid Hussein Sayed.

About the formation of a committee to finalise arrangements for the all-party conference, the PML-Q senator said: “Let us see what shape and form it takes”.