ISLAMABAD, July 14: A grand jirga of Baloch tribal leaders is being convened shortly to discuss issues related to Balochistan and to facilitate reconciliation between the government and tribes, sources said here on Thursday. Khan of Kalat Agha Suleman Dawood is actively engaged in preparations for the holding of the grand jirga. Khan of Kalat had offered to convene the grand jirga of tribal leaders during President Musharraf’s visit to Kalat. Since then, Khan of Kalat, who is widely respected among the Baloch and at the same time has friendly terms with the government and is viewed as highly patriotic, started contacting the tribal leaders holding preliminary talks with them.
President Musharraf is likely to address the jirga.
Balochistan, the source said, is on top of the president’s priority list and he is keenly following efforts aimed at resolving the crisis. Besides, the routine discussions about the grievances of the Baloch tribes, there are indications that the widely-talked about Balochistan package would be unveiled at the jirga as there is a strong perception amongst government circles that it would be the most appropriate forum for such a thing.
The Balochistan package is being finalized in the light of the recommendations of the parliamentary committees on Balochistan.
Giving a broad outline of the package, the source said, the main thrust is on political and economic development of the province and better participation of tribes in these activities.
One of the important aspects of the package is confidence building as the Baloch leaders wanted sureties that the package would be implemented in letter and spirit.
It is primarily for this reason that President Musharraf would himself announce the package to underline the government’s commitment.
The other factor being given great importance while finalizing the package, the source said, is to make it acceptable to all the stakeholders - tribes, sub-tribes and the government itself.
Among other things, the government would propose greater involvement of the tribes and sub-tribes in the development process.
To address the security issue, the source said, with enhanced involvement of tribes they would be made responsible for security of installations and projects in their respective domains.
Besides ensuring greater share of Baloch people in jobs in the province and at the federal level, the government is working on plans to improve the skills of the locals for which a network of vocational centres is being proposed.
The federal government, the source said, is already training about 200 Baloch youths in Islamabad.
To allay fears of the Baloch about the change in demographic composition of Gwadar, the source said, it is being proposed that people settling in Gwadar from other parts of the country would not be entitled to domicile certificates for about 25 years besides restricted right to vote in election.
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