TAXILA, Feb 15: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said the government will make all out efforts to resolve Balochistan crisis through political means, and a breakthrough in this context was expected very soon.

He was talking to newsmen at Taxila Museum rest house on Tuesday. He said a PML parliamentary sub-committee, headed by party secretary-general Mushahid Hussain, held consultations with all stakeholders and tribal leaders concerned, including Sardar Akbar Bugti, to resolve the status quo on the issue through peaceful and political means.

He said in light of the sub-committee report, the PML parliamentary committee would finalize its recommendations in the current week. These recommendations will ultimately bring about certain constitutional amendments with the consensus of Baloch leaders.

The process of settlement of the issue would be completed before the next session of the National Assembly, he said. Mr Hussain said the government would avoid resolving the Balochistan issue through military action, and was ready to make constitutional amendments in this regard.

Answering a question, he said he was visiting India with a view to enhancing people-to-people contact, and it had nothing to do with development on Kashmir and other issues, including Baglihar Dam.

He said even if the MMA did not participate, the government would hold the National Security Council session as per schedule. Earlier, the PML president and the secretary-general launched the membership drive of the party in Taxila and Wah Cantonment at a ceremony held here.

Federal Minister for Labour and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Punjab Minister for Public Health Raja Mushtaq Kiani, MNA Ch Ijaz, Adviser to Chief Minister Rahat Qadosi, PML Rawalpindi district president Raja Nasir, Taxila Tehsil Nazim Mohammad Sadeeq Khan and PML Wah Cantonment chapter president Malik Tamoor Masood were also present on the occasion.

Speaking to the gathering, the PML president said the government was ready to holds talks with the opposition parties on all national issues for the sake of democratic norms. "We are ready to accept proposals forwarded by any party for the betterment of common man," he said.

He said a public complaint cell had been established by the party, and it would even register complaints, if any, against the prime minister or any cabinet member as no one was beyond accountability.

Speaking on the occasion, the PML secretary-general said the objective of the membership drive was to unite the party workers and computerize their particulars. "We want to carry the message of Muslim League to the grassroots level and play an active role in the country's affairs for political stability," he said.

He called upon the workers to start preparations for the forthcoming local bodies elections, and expedite their efforts for new enrolments. On the occasion, all the UC nazims and naib nazims of Taxila Tehsil announced their joining of the PML and filled out the membership forms.