QUETTA: The Central Committee of the National Party criticised the federal government for not taking the Balochistan government and NP leadership into confidence on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. It sought a 50 per cent share in the Gwadar Port Authority and announced that a committee would be formed to draft a legislation for claiming revenue to be generated from the corridor in the province.

The two-day meeting which concluded here on Tuesday night was presided over by NP’s central president Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bezenjo and attended by Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, senators, MNAs, MPAs and members of the party from the four provinces.

The committee regretted that the authorities in Islamabad did not take the Balochistan government and National Party leadership on board on the important CPEC and other projects and issues pertaining to the corridor.

“The National Party and the provincial government will form a committee to draft a bill for legislation in the assembly to get revenue from the CPEC route passing through Balochistan,” the committee announced.

It said the province should be given 50pc share in the Gwadar Port Authority and the post of chairman of the Gwadar Development Authority should be handed over to the chief minister.

The committee welcomed improvement in relations with Afghanistan and urged the federal government to also take steps to normalise relations with Iran and India.

MISSING PERSONS: The committee stressed the need for resolving the issue of missing persons and said it would help create an environment conducive to negotiations with the angry Baloch leadership for peace.

It condemned the killing of 20 labourers near Turbat and termed it a murder of humanity and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

CENSUS: The committee decided against holding a census in Balochistan in the presence of Afghan refugees.

“A full-flanged campaign will be launched against the holding of census in the presence of Afghan refugees in the province,” the meeting said, adding that all government and political resources would be used to stop it.

A four-member committee headed by Mir Jan Muhammad Buledi and comprising MNA Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai, Senator Mir Kabir Muhammadshi and Dr Ishaq Baloch was formed to contact other parties for the purpose.

The central committee restored the party membership of Ms Shazia Langove. It issued show-cause notices to MPA Fateh Muhammad Buledi and former senator Aslam Buledi for allegedly violating party discipline and asked them to submit their replies in 10 days.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2015

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