QUETTA, Nov 24: Balochistan National Congress chairman Dr Hakim Lehri has called upon the government to initiate a dialogue with the Baloch leadership to resolve political issues. In an open letter addressed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, released to the press here, he said the government should abandon building cantonments and cancel mega projects so that funds allocated for the projects could be utilized for rehabilitation of earthquake victims.

Dr Lehri was of the opinion that talks with Baloch leaders, release of political activists and withdrawal of cases against them would develop better relations between the federation and Balochistan which would strengthen national integrity.—Correspondent