Balochistan-based politicians demanded of the government at the Balochistan Solidarity Jirga on Saturday that foreigners in the province must be kept out of the census, a reference to the Afghan refugees. The Jirga that expressed reservations and apprehensions of political forces vis-à-vis the upcoming census in the province also called for inclusion of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the census.
Eminent political, religious and tribal personalities spoke at the Jirga held with Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani in the chair at Sarawan House. Others, who attended and spoke, included three former chief ministers of the province - Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Barozai. They urged the federal government to address the reservations and apprehensions of the indigenous people with regard to the presence of Afghan refugees.
"We cannot accept foreigners as shareholders in our properties," Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of Balochistan National Party (BNP) said. Raisani stressed on immediate rehabilitation and inclusion of the IDPs in the census. He also cited that Pakistan has been home to Afghan refugees for more than three decades.
Dr Malik Baloch said people of Balochistan would not accept census in the presence of foreigners. Through a declaration, the Jirga demanded free and fair census in Balochistan. Bismiullah Kakar, the deputy convener of the Solidarity Jirga asserted that Balochistan needed a fair deal. Participants of the Jirga vowed to continue joint struggle for fair and free census in Balochistan so as to ensure justice and equality. The Jirga also observed that a large number of people were displaced as a result of worsening law and order situation in the province.
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