QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has termed the demands of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri unconstitutional and undemocratic and said that the same cannot be accepted.

He was talking to reporters after inaugurating the first critical care symposium organised by the Pakistan Society of Anaesthesiologists here on Sunday.

He said the government of Balochistan believed in democracy and rule of law and urged Imran Khan and Dr Qadri to restrict their demands to the parameters of the Constitution.

National Party president Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo has already announced that the chief minister, who belongs to the NP, will not send an advice to the governor for dissolution of the provincial assembly.

Malik Baloch said PTI and PAT leaders were setting wrong traditions in the country and that their attempts to topple an elected government by street power were unjustified. “I request Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri to please let the democracy flourish in the country.”

He said legitimate demands of the two parties could be considered.

Answering a question, the chief minister said he could not play any role for reconciliation between the PML-N and PTI or PAT. “I have no personal contact with Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri.”

However, he added, the prime minister had included Hasil Bizenjo in the committee set up by the federal government to hold talks with the PTI and PAT leaders.

In reply to a question, he said that security situation in Balochistan had improved a bit and efforts were being made to restore complete normalcy in the province.

He said presence of Afghan refugees in Balochistan was one of the factors behind poor security situation in the province and called for their early repatriation to their country.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2014