Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch Monday said past provincial governments did not enjoy support of federation and military for dialogue and that’s why talks with insurgents were impossible. Speaking at a national seminar organised by Punjab University and Pakistan Institute for National Affairs (PINA) at the varsity, the CM said, however, the federal and military leadership were supporting the present provincial government in dialogue process and it was ready to negotiate on all issues under the umbrella of constitution and national security. Dr Abdul Malik Baloch also said in order to resolve the issues of the province once and for all, we need to change mindset otherwise no one would be able to control sixth rebellion in the province. Talking about the law and order situation in Balochistan, the chief minister said it had improved manifold and Quetta city used to be shut down after Maghrib prayers but now the markets remained open till 3am on the eve of Eid etc. He said our leadership had made Balochistan’s non-functional government functional and the government had started providing education and health facilities and job opportunities to the people. Dr Abdul Malik Baloch stressed the Balochistan students to get education as the government would provide them opportunities and utilize their talent. He said recently the government had provided jobs to 5,000 candidates through NTS, recruited 700 lecturers, 1200 SSTs and 30 engineers purely on merit. No one can question the sincerity of Dr Malik in resolving the problems of the province. But he is not empowered to bring a change or give any guarantees to the nationalist insurgents. Although he has been actively engaged in pursuing the exiled Baloch leadership to come to the negotiating table and find a political solution to all issues, yet he is not trusted by the self-exiled Baloch leaders. The estranged Baloch leadership has concerns about the authority of the provincial government in taking any decision on its own. It is a fact that the incumbent Balochistan CM is powerless in crucial matters. It is critical that the establishment understands that Balochistan needs a political solution. There is a need to empower the civilian government in the province that could engage the alienated Baloch leaders in talks. Successive governments in Balochistan have remained powerless. That has added to the agony of the Baloch people. In the wake of upcoming development ventures under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the strategic importance of Balochistan, it is critical that the Baloch people should be made a part of these development initiatives. The government needs to ensure an equitable distribution of resources. The Baloch people should be made a part of the federation like other citizens of the country. There is a need to remove the feelings of deprivation and alienation among the Baloch citizens. The establishment should give importance to the sensible advice of the Balochistan CM about the threat of a sixth insurgency in the future that could cause irreversible damage. Any such development will not be in the interests of the country. It is high time that the establishment started devolution of power at the civilian level and did not impose its policies on the Baloch people.
pk.shafaqna.com
