Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was on his way to Sukkur when the aircraft developed technical problems and had to be landed immediately. – File photo by AFP
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani . – File photo by AFP

GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that there is only a handful of people in Balochistan who are talking about independence for the province.

Talking to reporters at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh after laying floral wreaths on the graves of the Bhuttos and offering fateha, he said a majority of the Baloch were patriots as they had supported the Quaid-i-Azam in his struggle for Pakistan and rendered tremendous sacrifices towards that end.

He said if the Baloch had suffered any injustice in the past his government was ready to address their grievances.

He said that Z.A. Bhutto had made Pakistan a nuclear state and his contribution had been recognised internationally. He said Mr Bhutto gave the country 1973’s Constitution and the credit went to the present government that had restored it.

About the Karachi situation, he said it was the provincial matter but the federal government had extended all possible assistance to the province in terms of deployment of forces and intelligence sharing.Calling Karachi a mini-Pakistan, the prime minister said the government didn’t want a disturbed economy, adding that peace in the city would be restored.

He complained that almost all political parties were part of the government, either at the federal or provincial level, but it was the federal government that alone was criticised.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...