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QUETTA: Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Sunday that federal and provincial governments were on the same page in trying to resolve the Balochistan issue through dialogue.
He said it was a joint decision of the civil and military leadership of the country to restore peace in the province through reconciliation.
He was speaking at the inauguration ceremonies of Jashn-i-Kalat and Khaliqabad cultural and sports festival in Kalat and Mangocher.
Also read: Dr Malik wants jobs for Balochistan’s youths in PIA, CAA
The CM appealed to those who believed in armed struggle to achieve rights by bidding farewell to arms and launching instead a political and democratic struggle to protect the Baloch identity, coast and resources.
He urged political leaders and tribal elders to cooperate with the government in its reconciliation policy and restoration of peace in the province.
He said everybody knew how precarious was the law and order situation in Sarawan, Jhalawan, Nasirabad and Makran was two years ago. But joint efforts made by the government and security forces had brought a visible improvement in the situation and the process of development had started in Balochistan.
Mr Baloch warned that his government would not tolerate criminal activities and would bring extortionists to book.
About members of the Hindu community moving from Kalat, Khuzdar and Mastung to ‘safe’ areas, he said people belonging to the minority communities were “sons of the soil” and their protection was a legal, constitutional and ethical responsibility of the government.
He appealed to those members of the Hindu community who had left their hometowns to return and pledged to provide protection to them.
He said people should expose drug traffickers because they were destroying the youth.
He said that action would be taken against absentee teachers and asked people and local administration to inform the education authorities about those teachers who did not discharge their duties honestly.
He said his government was trying to make Harboi a tourist attraction to boost economy of Kalat district.
The chief minister announced construction of a new building for the Dawood High School and provision of buses for the girls’ college in Kalat.
He also announced Rs2 million compensation for the family of a Levies sepoy recently killed in a clash with militants near Kalat.
Acting Speaker of Balochistan Assembly Mir Abdul Quddoos Bizenjo, provincial ministers Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Dr Hamid Achakzai, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Sarfaraz Bugti and Mir Khalid Langove and Prince Ahmed Ali, a member of Balochistan Assembly, also spoke at the ceremonies.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2015
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