LAHORE-The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and representative parties of Balochistan at a Round Table Conference (RTC) on "National Solidarity and Developing Situation in Balochistan" expressed deep concern over the current situation in Balochistan and termed it highly dangerous for county’s security and existence.
A joint Communique issued at the end of the conference strongly urged the government to learn lesson from history, desist from using force against Baloch people and reveal the identity of arrested youth and political workers.
Held under the chairmanship of PML (N) leader Raja Zafarul Haq, it was arranged by ARD here at Hamdard Centre, Lahore and was attended by nationalist parties of Balochistan including Balochistan National Party and Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party.
The absence of ARD chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and senior PPP leaders from the conference was conspicuous. Party’s Lahore President, Azizur Rehman Chan, Munir Ahmad Khan and Tahir Khalique represented their party in the meeting.
Raja Zafarul Haq, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Begum Tehmina Daultana represented PML (N) side, while human rights activist, Asma Jehangir and President Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice (Retd) Malik Muhammad Qayyum were specially invited to attend the conference. Representatives of over a dozens component parties of the alliance also participated in the five-hour long deliberations on Balochistan issue.
Pledging complete solidarity with the people of Balochistan, the RTC, convened by ARD, assured Baloch people of its full support and asked the rulers to learn a lesson from the tragedy of 1971.
"Balochistan happens to be the largest province of Pakistan in size, and is rich in natural resources like oil, gas and minerals. We cannot overlook the developing situation there due to its importance geographically and as a unit of the federation", the Communique said.
It further said that the present military regime had initiated certain policies right after assuming power that led to an atmosphere of tension and despair, which continues to increase by the day.
The RTC expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan and termed it very disappointing. The participants of the conference alleged that the said committee eroded the confidence of Baloch people in parliamentary bodies, and ultimately led to extensive unrest in the province, which provided an excuse to the government to move military and paramilitary units in different areas.
They also attributed large scale arrests in the districts of Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Bolan, Chaghi Nushki, Mastung, Qalat, Khuzdar, Turbat and Gwadar to failure of the said body while quoting Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao himself confirming four thousand arrests speaking in Turbat on December 8, 2005.
The conference warned that these developments were taking Balochistan towards the 1971 like situation.
The participants were unanimous on the point that the political parties of Balochistan, and other groups, were loyal to the country, and their struggle to seek recognition of their status in the federation does not warrant declaring them enemies of progress, and that they be pushed against the wall with relentless use of state power. It could imperil the existence of the country rather thane strengthening national unity; and while taking advantage of the changing international conditions, some one could use these developments against Pakistan and its people, they warned.
Demanding initiation of concrete steps to restore an atmosphere conducive to political resolution of Balochistan’s problems, the RTC stressed that rule of law, constitution and human rights must be ensured, apart from halting the operation of secret agencies in Balochistan.
Later, briefing newsmen at the end of the conference, Raja Zafarul Haq said that ARD would continue its protest both inside and outside the parliament to fight for the rights of Baloch people. He said it was obligatory on the Opposition to stop the Government from pursuing such policies, which were highly dangerous for country’s security. Had the people stood against then Government in 1971, the country could have been saved from disintegration, he added.
He decried General Pervez Musharraf for what he called sowing seeds of disunity among the federating units, and setting them against each other. The PML (N) leader took strong exception to a statement by Pervez Musharraf in which he allegedly said that if any government did not announce Kalabagh Dam, the Punjab province would not let it rule the country.
"It was sheer injustice with Punjab province to turn other provinces’ hatred against it", he observed.
Zafarul Haq was of the view that Baloch people had the first right on natural resources of Balochistan, and unless measures were taken to satisfy them, the situation was bound to remain highly explosive.
About convening of the RTC in Lahore, he said, "under this alarming situation, we wanted to raise voice in favour of Baloch people from Punjab capital".
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2005/17/index4.php |
