MULTAN, Jan 19: MMA chief Qazi Husain Ahmad has stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis in Balochistan, saying the armed conflict between military and the tribesmen is not in the interest of the country. Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday evening, he said the problems in Balochistan were of political nature and, therefore, these should be resolved through dialogues rather than the barrel of gun.

Referring to President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s utterance that the ‘troublemaker’ chieftains of Balochistan could even buy tanks, the MMA chief said it was the permanent establishment of the country that had always harboured the tribal chiefs to deprive the Baloch people of their rights.

He urged that the report of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan, headed by PML chief Shujaat Husain should be made public. “Genuine demands of the Baloch people must be addressed forthwith,” he said, adding “measures should be taken to get rid of the cruel tribal hierarchy in the most backward province of the country.”

He said the official policy on the Bajaur killings was ambiguous and controversial. He alleged that the lame protest the Musharraf regime had lodged with its ally — the USA — was just an eyewash because the government of Pakistan had prior knowledge of the air raid.

He said all the opposition parties were united on the issue and a joint press conference in this regard would be held in Islamabad on Saturday (tomorrow). He said a parliamentary delegation, comprising MPs of the opposition party, would visit the Bajaur agency the next day to condole with the bereaved families.

Imran Khan had confirmed his availability while the top parliamentary leaders of the PPP and the PML-N would be accompanying the delegation, he maintained.

He said the composite dialogues between Pakistan and India were going on and on without any result because the latter had been calling the disputed territory of Kashmir as its integral part.

He said construction of new water reservoirs was need of the hour. “Whichever is feasible and can be constructed,” was his reply when a reporter asked that which of the proposed dams should be constructed first.

He said opposition parties were negotiating to field their joint candidates for the vacant seats of the upper house (Senate).