ISLAMABAD, March 26: PML President and Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PML Secretary-General Syed Mushahid Hussain will visit Dera Bugti on Sunday to hold second round of talks with Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz presided over a meeting here on Saturday which was attended among others by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Balochistan governor Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Mir Jam Mohammad Yousuf and Senator Mushahid Hussain to prepare a unified response from the government in the next round of talks with Mr Bugti. Informed sources told Dawn that the focus of the Shujaat-Mushahid talks with the JWP chief was on resolving the issue of Sui and Dera Bugti amicably and in a spirit of mutual understanding and leaving the constitutional and other issues of the province to the parliamentary committee on Balochistan to resolve.

Under the understanding reached between Chaudhry Shujaat and Mr Bugti, it was agreed that while security forces will continue to man sensitive installations in Sui, the position of pickets which disturb internal security of Dera Bugti would be changed to the satisfaction of Mr Bugti.

The sources said that both sides wanted an honourable exit from the complex situation which was not in favour of both sides.

The sources said that it had been reiterated by the president and the prime minister in meetings they had chaired in recent days that while seeking a political solution to the problem, there would be no compromise on the security of national assets.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his meeting with the Balochistan governor and the chief minister stressed this point once again in Saturday’s meeting.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Shujaat is leaving on a four-day visit to India on Monday.

He would lead his party delegation and return home on April 1, the sources said.

Earlier, it was presumed that Mr Shujaat might delay his visit to Dera Bugti till his return from India but after his meeting with government representatives on Saturday, it was decided that the Balochistan issue should be resolved as early as possible.

In the meantime, sources close to the Prime Minister’s house rebuffed reports of change of Sindh chief minister.

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...