President Asif Ali Zardari starts efforts to win over estrange Baloch people

In order to appease sentiments of the estranged Baloch leaders, President Asif Ali Zardari entrusted Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Ali Magsi to engage them and bring them to the all-parties huddle on the province.

The president observed that he himself will meet the alienated leaders in order to bring them back in the mainstream politics.

He asserted, “We accept that a sense of deprivation prevails amongst Baloch leaders. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wants to resolve their issues. I personally want to meet all the leaders”.

He said during a meeting held at Magsi’s residence in Karachi where he visited the provincial governor to offer condolences on his mother’s demise. He impressed upon the governor, being the chief of the Magsi tribe, to play the role of a mediator between the government and alienated Baloch leaders.

He also briefed Governor Balochistan on the efforts to bring Baloch leaders into mainstream politics. The president commented, “We are convening an all-parties’ conference on the issue. Please convince all stakeholders in the province to take part, for seeking an amicable solution of Balochistan.”

The impetus to this flurry of activity was of course provided by the unexpected meeting of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the situation in Balochistan.

The Parliament too took the issue of unrest in Balochistan. The incumbent presented details of the funds that have been and would be spent under the much-hyped Aaghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package, and seemingly on paper the progress has been optimistic.

Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani also formed a 13-member committee to engage all stakeholders for an all-parties conference (APC) on Balochistan.

In the latest move, the government also decided to withdraw all the cases against estranged Baloch leaders, asking them to make a comeback to the country.

At the same time, the media focused the issue publishing and airing back-to-back stories. Columnists wrote daily on the situation and even the television talk show hosts took a break from the infamous memogate and Supreme Court to blare about the matter.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=13787

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 25 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.