By Amanullah Kasi
Friday, 19 Jun, 2009
QUETTA: Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of his own faction of the Balochistan National Party, has demanded that the United Nations should be a guarantor in talks between the Baloch and the government to address the grievances of the province.
Speaking at a press conference at the Mengal house on Thursday night, he said since decision-makers in the establishment were more powerful than the government, the latter was denying that it was carrying out a military operation in Balochistan.
‘We thought that after the 2008 election the PPP-led government would abandon the anti-Baloch policy of the Musharraf regime and stop the operation to resolve the issue through dialogue, but it continued the former general’s policies and intensified the military action.’
Sardar Mengal said his party would hold talks with the government only if UN representatives acted as guarantor.
He said that a large number of Baloch political workers were still missing. He accused intelligence agencies of arresting activists, raiding their houses and humiliating women and not producing detainees in court to prove their innocence.
‘Such inhuman acts reflect that the establishment enjoys unlimited powers and is least interested in respecting rights of the people of Balochistan.’
Sardar Mengal said only an apology or forming committees would not solve problems and if the government was serious, it should realise the gravity of the situation in Balochistan and concede the province’s rights on its resources.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/04-akhtar-mengal-wants-un-as-guarantor-qs-04
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