Seminar on Balochistan crisis: speakers underscore need for resolution

Speakers at a seminar titled "Disturbing conditions in Balochistan" have expressed concern over present situation in Balochistan and called for seeking a political solution of the crisis like situation in this part of Pakistan.
The seminar was chaired by Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Lateef Mughal. Among others, Amanullah Shadezai, Qayyum Nizami, Sajjad Mir, Z I Farrukh, Engineer Anwar Hussain Mujahid and Altaf Hasan Qureshi Secretary General PINA addressed the seminar.
The speakers demanded that parliament and media should focus on the issues that are creating feelings of deprivation among the people of Balochistan. They called for bringing the killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti in the court of law in order to heel the wounds inflicted on the soul of the young Baloch generation.
In the seminar, efforts of the Army vis-à-vis opening new avenues for progress and development in the starved and backward zone of Pakistan were also appreciated.
Khalid Lateef Mughal in his presidential address endorsed the view that all out efforts be made to find a political solution and at the same time those elements must be exposed and defeated with national unity which are bent upon to destabilise the strategically important Balochistan. According to him, the insurgents are only in the range of 3000 who are financed and equipped by U S, Israel and India.
He further said that their agents were responsible for killing and disfiguring the dead bodies of the citizens. He emphatically said that armed forces never disfigure the bodies even of the enemy. He also said that the US has strategic interest in Afghanistan and Balochistan as the oil from Caspian Sea could only be transmitted through Afghanistan and Balochistan. He said that Gawadar Port is of crucial importance for the Western powers, which have designs to contain China's influence in Pakistan. He forcefully pleaded that Pakistan should stop the supplies to the Nato forces so that they have no other option except to withdraw from Afghanistan and cease the war on terror in Pakistan.
Amanullah Shadezai from Balochistan highlighted the critical conditions prevailing in his province and said this requires utmost attention on the part of national leadership. He stated that slogans against Pakistan are being raised by the angry and instigated youth while the target killings have become the order of the day.
He disclosed that Baloch Liberation Army and other violent groups are challenging the writ of the state with the help of some foreign powers. In his opinion the situation worsened after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti who was a great supporter of the federation and played a vital role in persuading the Shahi Jirga to vote for Pakistan in 1947. He said that disfiguring of the dead bodies is provoking the population and turning it against Pakistan.
Shadezai proposed that military leadership should negotiate with the leadership which once has been in the mainstream and is presently antagonised due to mishandling by the concerned authorities. He demanded that killers of Nawab Bugti be brought to justice and jobs in thousands be provided. Balochistan Package is earnestly implemented and provincial autonomy be transferred according to the 18th Amendment, he said.
Qayyum Nizami shared with the concerns of people of Balochistan and assumed that people of the Punjab have heart-felt love for their brothers in Balochistan. He was of the view that exchange of delegations would certainly remove misgivings and strengthens the bonds better understanding among the countrymen.
Sajjad Mir suggested that we should investigate the factors, which forced the mainstream Baloch leadership to drift down to violent reactions. He emphasised that the aspirations of the people of Balochistan should be properly respected and projected in the media and should be reflected in the national policy formulations.
Z I Farrukh talked about the strategic importance of Balochistan and pointed out that Makran Belt should be treated with great care and national integration be given top priority. He hoped that army efforts to open technical institutions and initiate development projects would yield good results in integrating the province.