QUETTA: A well-attended tribal peace jirga held in Mastung on Wednesday vowed to foil conspiracies against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and development activities in Balochistan and resolved to not allow the self-exiled leaders to “send Baloch youths to the mountains”, a reference to insurgency, just for serving their interests.

The hours-long jirga, organised by the Muhibban Tehreek Nazarya-i-Pakistan, was addressed by Deputy Chairman of the Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Provincial Minister Mir Ghulam Dastagir Badini, MNA Mir Usman Badini, PPP leader Ali Madad Jattak, Prince Agha Omer Ahmedzai, Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq, Sardar Abdul Sattar Shar and other tribal elders.

The speakers said that the self-exile leaders were leading a luxurious life and their children were studying in prominent educational institutions in Europe but they were misguiding Baloch youths and sending them to the mountains.

The era of sending Baloch youths to the mountains was over and nobody would be allowed to continue this practice anymore, they said adding that the youth now wanted education and development of the province.

The speakers said that security forces and people of Balochistan had rendered tremendous sacrifices to maintain peace and order in the province. They said, “It is our message for those elements who want to continue disturbances in Balochistan at the behest of their masters in India and Afghanistan that the situation has changed and people of Balochistan are on one page.”

They said that Pakistan wanted to live with Afghanistan peacefully and was making efforts to restore peace and order in the two countries. “War is not solution of any issue as all disputes are finally resolved through negotiation,” they said. They urged Afghanistan to play its role for improving the situation instead of playing in the hands of India against Pakistan.

They asked people to raise voice against terrorism. “Every single person has to play his role in eliminating the curse of terrorism from Balochistan”

The speakers said that the CPEC was for the development of the country, including Balochistan, and wellbeing of the people.

“The enemy wants to divide us but we would not let the enemy foment differences among us and would foil its nefarious designs through unity,” they said.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018