Nationalists reject package as charity

QUETTA - The Baloch nationalist parties have termed the much hyped proposed Balochistan package 'Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan, nothing less than a charity for the people of Balochistan. It may be mentioned that the main elements who are rejecting the package in Balochistan are nationalist forces. As far as Baloch nationalist forces are concerned they are divided into two groups. BNF which is an alliance of eight Baloch nationalist parties had outrightly rejected the package and any negotiations with the govt. Nawabzada Harbiyar Marri, a son of veteran Baloch nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri while rejecting the package said that no change had come in the mindset of the Pakistani rulers. 'We even cant imagine any agreement with Pakistani rulers until and unless Balochistan becomes an independent State, he clarified. He regretted that President Asif Ali Zardari and his government had only talked for formation of inquiry commission to probe into killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and other thousands of Baloch people, while they were spending millions of rupees to probe the killing of Benazir Bhutto by UN. He said that Sindhi rulers had also started the same joke with Baloch nation which had been done by Punjab. He said, 'they are ready for any dialogue with Pakistan rulers if it is for independence of Balochistan. Commenting on the package, veteran Baloch leader and former President of National Party, Doctor Abdul Hayee Baloch rejected the package,saying 'we do not want any charity from Federal government rather we want our Constitutional rights. He said that all nationalist and democratic forces of Balochistan had demanded for self-rule and right of power on their own resources. 'Pakistan is a multi-national State and all nationalities should be given equal rights, he added. NP leader said that former President Pervez Musharraf was the killer of Nawab Akbar Bugti and everybody knows this fact, then why rulers were hesitating to take action against him instead of forming a commission. He alleged that Balochistan had badly affected due to military drive, and the rulers in the name of package would once again use brute force against innocent people. Veteran Baloch leader Sardar Attaullah Mengal termed the package a 'joke and said that he would not want to become part of any joke when this scribe contacted him to know his views about the proposed package. 'I deem even any comment on this package an insult, he said and added 'rulers of this country did not bother during last 60 years to know what is the real problem of Balochistan. Talking to The Nation on phone, Senator Abdul Malik Baloch, who also attended the session, said package was fraud and there was nothing in it which could heal the wounds of Baloch people. He stressed that govt should take steps for ending alleged military drive and recover the missing persons of the province. 'Without accepting the right of ownership of Balochistan on its resources and coast, problems will not be solved, he added. Jamil Akbar Bugti, son of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti said that Balochistan Package was introduced to divert the attention of masses from National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). He said that they had never attached hopes with packages or committees. Formation of commission on Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti would be like Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission report. He said that instead of constituting committees and announcing packages, killers of his father Nawab Bugti should be arrested in accordance with the registered FIR. Secretary General BNP Habib Jalib Advocate spurning the package said that they did not want packages but a new social contract which should ensure our right to self-determination and right on our own resources. He said that owing to constant interventions of Army, Constitution of 1973 had lost its authenticity. 'Neither 5,000 jobs can be substitute of miseries of Balochistan nor formation of commission into the killing of Nawab Bugti and other Baloch people can heal the wounds of Baloch grievances, he added. Provincial President Pakhtoon Khuwa Milli Awami Party, Usman Kakar said that there were two big nationalities living in Balochistan including Baloch and Pakhtoons. Rejecting the package, he said that Pakhtoons were completely neglected in the package and they would not accept it at any cost. Former Jamaat-i-Islami Ameer Balochistan Abdul Haq Hashmi said that provincial autonomy was an important issue of Balochistan which had not been given any importance in the package.

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