QUETTA: Balochistan’s former chief minister and senior leader of the National Party Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Thursday that only dialogue, rather than recourse to the use of violence, could help restore peace in the province.

Speaking at a joint press conference with provincial health minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch and Yasmeen Lehri, the leader welcomed the joining of ex- MPA and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader Mir Ghulam Jan to the National Party.

“Pakistan’s stability only relies on strong democracy, supremacy of parliament and freedom of speech,” Dr Baloch said, adding that the supremacy of parliament would cause economic stability in the country.

Since its inception, he said, the National Party emphasised on dialogue instead of use of force to resolve simmering issues in Balochistan.

Sharing his party’s stance on the recent abduction of Dr Allah Nazar’s family, he said that abduction of women had angered the Baloch people.

“We [the party] have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and asked him to play his role in recovering the abducted women safely,” said Dr Baloch.

Replying to a query regarding the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, he said the party had reservations over the way the Supreme Court decided to disqualify a sitting prime minister.

“The incumbent government should complete its tenure and we won’t accept any technocrat government,” said the NP leader.

Talking about recent threats to journalists by banned Baloch militant outfits, Dr Baloch said his party strictly condemned threatening journalists.

“An armed group had targeted our party’s senior leader Jan Muhammad Buledi and his children. Various press clubs have been shut down in Balochistan following threats by outlawed organisations,” Dr Baloch said, adding that the government should address the issue and concerns of journalists.

He was of the view that Balochistan’s seats in the National Assembly should be increased because each constituency in the province covered about 600km area.

“We want to invite all leading national political parties to contest in the Quetta-Chaghi NA-260 election,” the former chief minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial health minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch said that the National Party was striving to get the due share for the people of Balochistan and was the only party where an ordinary man could be selected to be an MPA.

Mir Ghulam Jan, who recently joined the party, added that he joined the National Party because it was the only political party which was the voice of the deprived people of Makran Division.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2017