QUETTA, Sept 7: The provincial government has decided to release all political prisoners and drop cases against Bugti tribesmen languishing in different jails in Balochistan.

Talking to reporters after meeting Bugti tribesmen in the Hudda district jail here on Sunday, PPP’s deputy parliamentary leader Mir Sadiq Umrani said the federal and provincial governments had initiated a process of political reconciliation to resolve all issues.

Mr Umrani, Mir Zafarullah Zehri, Ali Madad Jattak, Babu Amin Umrani and Agha Irfan Karim distributed sweets among prisoners to mark the victory of Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election.

“The PPP government is aware of grievances of people of Balochistan and will take effective measures to lessen their suffering,” Mr Umrani said. He said that people had suffered a lot during eight years of military rule and their demands were genuine.

Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zahri and Mir Umrani met Mir Abdul Nabi Bangulzai who has been in jail for eight years.

Mr Zehri said that all cases against Mr Bangulzai would be dropped soon. Mr Bangulzai was in prison in connection with a murder case.