Category:Baluch Media Network

Balochistans control on resources urged

Posted on : 2006-09-15 12:39:19

KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar on ?Balochistan: Past, Present and Future? underscored the urgent need for a major constitutional initiative to recognise the province?s control of its resources to ensure integrity and stability of the country.

Criticising the military rulers for using force instead of holding dialogue to resolve political issues, they demanded an immediate halt to the military operation in Balochistan and dispensation of justice in the greater interest of the federation.

The seminar was organised by the newly formed group of scholars named ?Fikr-i-Milli?. The former Nazim of Karachi Naimatullah Khan presided over the seminar which was addressed by Sardar Sher Baz Khan Mazari, Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmad, Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Balochistan Home Minister Shoaib Nausherwani, Shahid Hassan Siddiqui, Shahnawaz Farooqui and others. Sardar Mazari told the participants that he was happy to note that there still existed many conscientious and principled people in the country who would not mince any word in condemning oppression.

He said he did not recognise Pervez Musharraf as president. ?He is only a general who has taken over the country,? he said.

Suggesting ways to restore harmony in the country, he stressed on the restoration of the 1973 Constitution and the constitutional rights of federating units and their people. If necessary, amendments be made to the constitution to grant autonomy to provinces, he added.

Prof Khursheed declared that all military operations carried out in Balochistan till date were unjustifiable. He said the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti was a case of target killing whereas the elimination of his companions appeared to be a massacre, thus condemnable.

He identified contradictions in the government?s versions of the Kohlu incident, and deplored that the way Nawab Bugti?s burial had been performed was contrary to all religious, traditional and moral values for which those responsible must be held accountable.

He demanded a judicial inquiry under a Supreme Court judge into the tragic killing and open trial of those involved.

Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch emphasised urgency of the amendment to the Constitution for provincial autonomy and control of resources to prevent further spread of discontent among the people of Balochistan who had already started feeling that federation might not recognise their due rights.

He said for youth of Balochistan, Nawab Bugti was a role model who preferred to lay down his life for the rights of his province and people despite the fact that he had been receiving Rs130 to 140 million annually on account of rent/royalty. Criticising the military operations in the country, Gen Baloch advised President Musharraf to keep the uniform separate from politics.

Rejecting the government?s propaganda that Bugti, Marri and Mengal Sardars had been opposing development and progress, Gen Qadir argued: ?Why the areas under the influence of the other 71 Sardars had remained undeveloped despite the fact that they have been supporting the government.

He also contested the government?s claim that it was spending Rs130 billion for development in Balochistan, and pointed out that that Rs100 billion out of this amount was meant for Gwadar Port which would be under the control of federation. He further noted that recruitment vis-à­¶is the project would be made on quota basis and Balochistan?s share had been fixed at only 3.5 per cent.

Gen Baloch pointed out that Balochistan?s governor had always come from some other province whereas since 1974, there had been only three chief secretaries hailing from this province. Similarly, not a single IG for the province happened to be a Baloch.

He condemned subversive activities in Balochistan but strongly opposed use of force to counter them, arguing that similar activities had been witnessed in other provinces but none of them had been subjected to military operations.

Balochistan Home Minister Nausherwani attributed the sense of deprivation in Balochistan people to the attitude of past rulers. He maintained that the death of Akbar Bugti was being used to foment hatred against the government.

Earlier, Naimatullah Khan in his opening remarks pleaded the case of Balochistan by recounting the inequality leading the deprivation and unrest and the ground reality that nothing could have been done so far in this regard.

He said that out of Rs84 billion revenue from the Sui gas, the province was being given only Rs4 billion. Furthermore, 99 per cent of the population in Sui was not being provided the gas.

There are 300 corporations in the country but not a single one is headed by a Baloch, according to the former nazim of Karachi. http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/15/local7.htm

Baloch Media Bureau Report

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