ISLAMABAD, March 26: The National Democratic Front (NDF) has welcomed resumption of talks between the government and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Chief Nawab Akbar Bugti to settle down the ongoing crisis in Balochistan. Speaking at a meeting of the party’s central executive committee here on Friday, NDF Chief Coordinator Elahi Bakhsh Soomro said the front wanted that the talks reached a peaceful conclusion as it was in the best interest of the country. He said provincial autonomy was the only remedy to various internal issues, adding that it would further strengthen the federation as well. However, he said, the increasing inflation had made the life of the common man miserable. “The law of the jungle prevails in Balochistan and Sindh, and there was no peace in the NWFP and the Punjab either,” he added.

Mr Soomro also criticized the Pakistan International Airlines for awarding a transport contract to a private company resulting in 600 job losses.

He said: “The NDF demands restoration of 1973 Constitution in its original form and holding of free and fair elections under a sovereign and neutral election commission, besides keeping the army out of the politics once and forever.”