QUETTA: Security institutions have recently warned about threats to the Balochistan Assembly and directed to restrict entry of commoners into the premises except for members, said Deputy Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail.

While speaking at the launch of the ‘Charter of Peace’ held by the Pak Institution for Peace Studies on Thursday, the deputy speaker expressed serious concern over the threat. “Now the threat has reached to the legislative assembly and I think no one is safe if lawmakers are not safe,” Mr Musakhail said, adding that it was a serious matter.

Lawmakers, members of political parties, academics, journalists, students, and representatives of civil society attended the launching ceremony. The ‘Charter of Peace’ is a consensus document that lays down key recommendations for countering violent extremism and building sustainable solutions towards attaining peace in Pakistan. It basically focuses on softer and political approaches for countering terrorism and violent extremism.”

The charter also conforms to United Nations resolutions, urging the role of civil society in building peace and countering violent extremism. “We, the people of Pakistan, believe in democracy and peace; respect all religions and faiths; revere our ethno-linguistic diversity; and accede to equal citizenship,” reads one of the points of the charter.

‘Charter of Peace’ launched

Sardar Musakhail said the situation in the province was precarious.

The deputy speaker underlined that they would have to see which foreign countries did not want peace in Balochistan and what their interests were. “Whether they are eyeing our mines and minerals?” he questioned, adding that the lives of people in Balochistan were more precious than natural resources. Religious scholar, Allama Akbar Hussain Zahidi, said peace couldn’t be attained by force as it was the prime responsibility of the state and its institutions to play their roles in bringing peace by making people-centric policies.

Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi, the Jamaat-i-Islami Balochistan chief, also addressed the event.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2023