PESHAWAR, April 11: Participants of a consultative dialogue on Wednesday urged the government to seek a peaceful solution to the Balochistan crisis and make an effective strategy to stop other countries from interfering in the affairs of the violence-hit province.
The dialogue titled ‘Situation in Balochistan, Issues and Way Forward’ was organised by Civil Society Network of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with Sungi Foundation here at Peshawar Press Club.
A large number of civil society members attended the event, where key speakers were National Patty senior vice president Senator Hasil Bizanjo, National Party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa general secretary Arbab Mujeebur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial general secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak, Jamaat-i-Islami provincial information secretary Israrullah, Awami National Party provincial general secretary Arbab Tahir, Pakistan People’s Party provincial information secretary Ayub Shah, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl provincial information secretary Abdul Jalil Jan, Civil Society Network of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial coordinator Idress Kamal and NP leader Mukhtar Bacha.
Expressing concern over growing lawlessness in Balochistan, speakers said the situation had got alarming in the province after the foreign intervention and therefore, all Baloch political and religious groups should forge unity in their ranks and act together for improvement in the situation.
PML-N leader Rehmat said Balochistan issue should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation with real stakeholders of the province. He said use of force wasn’t solution to the problems and that all stakeholders should be taken on board to resolve them on permanent basis.
Stressing the need for taking early and practical steps for safe recovery of missing persons from Balochistan, ending of violence on ethnic basis, and streamlining the Baloch society, he suggested that the rulers feel their responsibilities and take the relevant people into confidence without further delay.
He criticised military dictators and elected governments for creating problems instead of resolving existing ones and said the entire responsibility for Balochistan crisis rested with military rulers, who took illegal and illogical steps to protect their own interests to the misery of locals.
JI leader Israrullah said the Senate should be given maximum empowerment so that all federating units should have equal share in decision-making at the centre. He suggested equal representation of all provinces in federal bureaucracy to resolve issues confronting less privileged federating units.
He regretted that Aghza-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package produced no positive results as it failed to remove socioeconomic deprivation of the country’s largest yet poorest province.
PPP leader Mr Shah said the country needed honest political leadership to resolve all issues, including that of Balochistan.
He called for early steps to remove the growing sense of deprivation in Balochistan, Fata and smaller parts of the country.
“Smaller federating units should be given due constitutional and legal rights. As for Balochistan, locals should be brought to the political mainstream,” he said.
JUI-F leader Abdul Jalil Jan said Balochistan situation was quite alarming and therefore, all stakeholders, including political and religious groups, should take a unified stand to save it from being a Decca fall like debacle.
He said a conspiracy was hatched to divide Baloch and Pakhtun over Balochistan issue.
He demanded immediate release of people imprisoned on political basis and form a jirga of all political and religious parties to find a peaceful solution to Balochistan crisis.
National Party leader Mukhtar Bacha said Balochistan situation would be complicated further if it was not handled cautiously. He said all political and religious groups should play their due role for solution to Balochistan crisis and removal of the sense of deprivation among locals.
ANP provincial general secretary Arbab Tahir said the state was responsible to give due rights and privileges to the smaller federating units. He suggested that the issue be resolved through negotiation and talks by taking all stakeholders, including real Baloch leaders, and political groups into confidence. He added that his party would stand by the people of Balochistan for attainment of their legal rights.
NP central senior vice president Mr Bazenjo while speaking as keynote speakers at the dialogue said Pakhtun and Baloch were facing same situation, saying there was not dispute among them. He added that around 85 per cent Baloch and Pakhtuns were deprived of their due rights. He said both Baloch and Pakhtun wanted peace and stability on their soil.
He alleged that the state was responsible for escalating situation in Balochistan and Fata and rest of the region, saying the situation was getting worse after promotion of weapon culture among Pakhtun and Baloch society.
“We don’t need to blame any other state like the US, India and Afghanistan for turbulent situation in the region but there is a need improve border security to stop infiltration, steps for discouraging weapon culture,” he said.
Members of civil society organisations Zar Ali Khan Afridi, Waqas Ali, Arshad Haroon also spoke on the occasion.