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Published 20 Oct, 2013 08:43am

Malik plans APC on Balochistan issue

QUETTA, Oct 19: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Saturday that his government wanted to bring all militant organisations to the negotiating table to resolve issues confronting the province through dialogue.

He said militancy, sectarian terrorism and tribal feuds were the main causes of the law and order situation in the province. “Use of arms and force is not a solution of any issue.”

He said negotiations with all stakeholders would be initiated after convening an all-party conference.

All political parties, whether they had representation in parliament or not, would be invited to the APC, he said, adding that the conference would be held in Quetta soon. “I have been given the mandate to hold negotiations with militant leaders and we will start the dialogue process with them with sincerity.”

Dr Malik said it was difficult to predict the fate of talks, but “my humble efforts will be to make the negotiation process successful”.He said Balochistan issue was not a simple one as it had different dimensions. “On one hand, we are facing militancy, on the other the province is suffering because of sectarianism and tribal feuds,” he said. The situation had not only destroyed peace and order in Balochistan but also brought a negative impact on politics and economy of the province, he added.

In reply to a question, he said though his government could not achieve 100 per cent success in resolving the issue of missing persons, it had at least managed to reduce the number of such incidents. Likewise the incidents of dumping of mutilated bodies of Baloch youths have also dropped. “My government is making all out efforts to stop these incidents.”

About the rehabilitation of earthquake-hit people of Awaran and Kech districts, he said the provincial government had provided about 32,000 tents, food and other items to the affected families.

He urged the international community and overseas Pakistanis to help his government carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the quake-stricken areas.

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