THE crisis in Balochistan should be the top priority of the federal government. Balochistan is the most deprived province. As many as five military operations have been conducted in Balochistan. These were the biggest mistakes on the part of the federation.

There is a lot of trust deficit between the federation and the province of Balochistan and I do not blame the Baloch for that. Terrorism, militancy or extremism is the biggest problem of this province.

The government and the opposition should put the Balochistan issue on top of their priority list. The people of the province should be taken into confidence on all the issues of their province.

The tribal elders and the people at large should have the decision-making power. If the people demand that the army, FC and the Levies force should be withdrawn from their province, then this demand should be fulfilled. The experiments of parallel governments in Balochistan should end. The social and economic conditions of the people of Balochistan ought to be improved.

Jobs should be given to the locals. An additional share should be given to the Baloch in the federal bureaucracy.

Schools and hospitals should be built. Dialogue, negotiations and table talks should be the order of the day, instead of using force. We should not forget that we have already lost half of our country in 1971 and we do not want this to happen again.

WAQAR UMAR MEMON Karachi

Missing persons’ case

THE Baloch are still disappearing at the hands of intelligence agencies and mutilated bodies are being recovered from desolate places.

Thousands of Baloch have been abducted without any evidence. The missing persons should be recovered and extra-judicial killings should be stopped.

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch plans to open talks with separatist groups to bring peace to a province which is facing a full-blown insurgency and growing sectarian terrorism. The Baloch separatist groups reject the possibility of talks with the government. How will the government of Abdul Malik Baloch bring peace to the province?

RIAZ GHULAM Turbat