QUETTA: Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal said here on Saturday that his party believed in securing people’s rights through political struggle, adding that empowerment of local bodies provided the only solution of problems being faced by people.

Speaking at a press conference after arriving here from Karachi and inaugurating his party’s office in Quetta, he said that he had come to the city not to foment discord among people but to bring them together.

Mr Kamal said that Pakistan did not belong to one person and was not property of an individual, “It belongs to over 180 million citizens of the country.”

He said that the country could not progress in a real sense until serious steps were taken to resolve basic issues as people were facing hardships because of different problems.

He said that elements involved in crime and anti-state activities should be produced in courts and brought to justice.

Mr Kamal said that the issue of missing persons was a serious problem that was creating hatred among the people.

“All missing persons should be recovered and produced in courts if they are involved in any crime.”

He said that the entire country had serious concern over forced disappearance of people and dumping of mutilated bodies in Balochistan. He said that missing persons’ issue existed in Sindh and Punjab also and called for resolving it in a legal way.

Referring to local bodies, the former mayor of Karachi said that problems of people would not be solved until powers were devolved to the lower level. Devolution of powers will also lead to flourishing of democracy.

“The main cause of the backwardness of Balochistan is that in the past powers were concentrated in the hands of influential people who had no interest in solving public problems.”

Mr Kamal said that he had joined the field (of politics) not for assuming any public office but for meeting people to ascertain their problems.

He said that all problems being faced by the country could be solved within the parameter of the Constitution.

He urged the government to provide relief to poor people and said that the country needed reforms to replace its 68-year-old system. He said that Balochistan should be brought on a par with developed areas of the country and added that the people of the province were loyal to Pakistan.

Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing had used some so-called leaders in Karachi and Balochistan to create lawlessness, unrest and chaos, he said. “Agents of the Indian spy agency kill innocent people in Karachi and Balochistan.”

He said that Balochistan had been ignored and denied its due rights in the past and urged all stakeholders to ensure protection of its rights.

Mr Kamal said that his party would participate in general elections to be held in 2018.

He said that political differences should not be turned into animosity.

PSP leaders Anis Qaimkhani and Ashfaq Mangi and former member of the Balochistan Assembly Ataullah Kurd were present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2016