QUETTA, Nov 1: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf has said that all important political leaders and tribal elders of the province will be invited to a Baloch jirga being held in Islamabad on Nov 8.

Talking to newsmen in his chamber in the provincial assembly on Wednesday, the chief minister said that no tribal sardar or elder who did not recognise Pakistan would be invited to the jirga convened by President Pervez Musharraf.

“We cannot invite Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Akhtar Mengal to the jirga,” he said.

Referring to the Kalat jirga, he said Pakhtun elders were not invited to it and many sardars who attended the event had later met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The chief minister said the country could not be broken through announcement of any jirga or assembly and it would remain intact with all its four federating units. He said the Pakhtun Jirga and the Quetta Municipal Committee had given their verdicts in favour of Pakistan, while a majority of independent states of Balochistan had merged into Pakistan in 1947.

“After over half a century, announcement of quitting Pakistan will be nothing more than wishful thinking,” Jam Yousuf said. If jirgas could take such decisions, any area could be separated from the country, he said.

“If the Sindh Assembly takes such a decision then can Sindh be an independent state,” he asked, adding that where would they go in case of separation from Pakistan.

Referring to the prevailing situation in Balochistan, he said the time had gone when weapons were taken to the mountains for the acceptance of demands.

All issues could now be resolve through parliamentary politics, negotiations in a democratic way and mutual understanding, he said.

“Those who believe in resolving issues through weapons have chosen the wrong path,” Jam Yousuf said.

He said some people were conducting subversive activities to stop the development and economic activities being launched by the government in Balochistan but the designs of such elements would be foiled.

He said terrorist activities and any separatist movement would increase the problems of the people many fold and Balochistan would not get any benefit from it.