QUETTA: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir, Siraj ul Haq has urged upon rulers to win hearts and minds of people of Balochistan to pave the way for an amicable solution of issues relating to the troubled province.

He on Saturday called on Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti, Dr Jehanzaib Jamaldini and other leaders and discussed prevailing political situation.

Speaking to reporters, Haq underlined the need for negotiated settlement of issues pertaining to Balochistan. “Instead of pushing people against the wall, they must be embraced,” he said.

The JI chief stated that if Balochs were given rights and respect in the country, they would have never gone abroad. He said use of force had not produced any results in Balochistan rather it has further deteriorated the situation.

“One way or the other, force is still being used in Balochistan,” Siraj ul Haq mentioned. He said political workers were still missing and mutilated dead bodies being found in the province. He demanded an immediate recovery of all missing persons in the province.

“Balochs need healing touch,” he said, adding that rulers must change their mind and win hearts and minds of people of Balochistan to sort out issues through table talks.

The JI amir reiterated that federal government and PTI Chairman Imran Khan had to solve the issues through dialogue. He said he had made tireless efforts to avoid political crisis and strengthen democratic institutions in the country.

Siraj ul Haq thus repeated that politics has now become the job of rich people as influential people in the country were in politics. “Poor cannot do politics since it is a money game,” he said.

The Jamaat chief vowed that his party would continue its struggle for enforcement of Sharia (Islamic System) and giving rights to the deprived class of society.