ISLAMABAD, April 23: A PPP leader, Senator Raza Rabbani, has urged the caretaker government to take steps for the safety and protection of the candidates as well as the voters in Balochistan province where an increase in terrorist attacks has been witnessed in the past few days.

“The solution to the Balochistan issue is in the nationalist parties coming into the mainstream of Pakistani politics. Therefore, the need of the day in Balochistan is elections and not selections,” Mr Rabbani said in a statement here on Tuesday.

The PPP, he said, stood by the nationalist forces in their just struggle for the realisation of their political and economic rights within the framework of the 1973 constitution. “The party looks forward to the May 11 elections and to joining hands with the nationalist forces throughout the country in order to build a strong and progressive federal Pakistan,” he added.

Expressing concern over the call given by some banned organisations for wheel-jam strike from May 5 to 11 in the Balochistan province, the PPP leader said the caretaker government must intervene in the matter as it could affect the election campaign and polling during the May 11 elections.

“It is essential for a political solution in Balochistan that the nationalist parties contesting the elections be provided even playing field and a peaceful atmosphere for the campaign,” he added while welcoming the decision of the leadership of the nationalist parties to take part in the elections.

Mr Rabbani, who headed the parliamentary committee that had drafted Aghaz Haqooq-i-Balochistan Package during the PPP government, said his party had always sought cooperation of the nationalist parties and during its tenure it made the Baloch people owners of their natural resources through the special package and the 18th amendment. He said the concurrent list had been abolished and the provinces had been given 50 per cent ownership of all the natural resources through article 172 of the constitution.

Mr Rabbani particularly condemned the attacks on the residence of National Party chief Abdul Malik and Balochistan National Party-Awami leaders.