ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: The special ministerial committee on Balochistan headed by Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar is set to submit its preliminary report to the federal cabinet when it meets here on Wednesday.

According to sources, the committee’s members while presenting the report based on the outcome of their recent interactions with officials of the intelligence agencies and Baloch leaders are expected to seek more time from the cabinet for finalising a comprehensive report and their recommendations.

The committee, comprising Law Minister Farooq H. Naek, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Science and Technology Mir Changez Jamali and Minister for Postal Services Sardar Omar Gorgej, has been working on ‘fast track basis’ which is evident from the fact that since its formation on July 25, it has held some 10 meetings in Islamabad, Karachi and Quetta.

The sources said that through the initial report, the committee would apprise the cabinet of its assessment of the situation in Balochistan in the light of briefings received from officials of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) agencies and its meetings with leaders and members of various political parties of the province.

The members’ main focus was on the issue of alleged foreign involvement in the province, they said.

The committee also held meetings with Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani in Islamabad and Governor Zulfiqar Magsi in Karachi.

Speaking at a news conference after their two-day visit to Quetta last week, Naveed Qamar claimed that his committee enjoyed “complete support” of the army and other important institutions in its efforts to secure peace in the province.

During their stay in Quetta, the committee’s members met delegations of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), Balochistan National Party-A, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Jamaat-i-Islami.

The BNP-M and National Party refused to meet the committee, saying they would not hold negotiations with a body which had no powers to take any decision.

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