KARACHI: Former Balochistan chief minister and president of BNP-M president Sardar Akhtar Mengal and BNP-Awami leader Sardar Israrullah Zehri met former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari here on Friday, according to a statement issued by the Bilawal House.

“Talking to the Baloch leaders, Asif Ali Zardari said that his party has always struggled for the rights of the people of Balochistan and started Aghaz Huqooq-i-Baloch–istan package to heal the wounds of the province,” it said. “The seventh NFC award was another major step towards enhancing the share of Balochistan in the federal divisible pool. Saying that genuine provincial rights can be safeguarded through the strengthening of democracy, he pointed out that PPP gifted provincial autonomy to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.”

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Balochistan PPP president Haji Ali Madad Jattak were present at the meeting.

“Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal and Senator Mir Israrullah Zehri apprised the former president about the situation in Balochistan and shared their views over the developments,” added the statement.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2017