Akhtar Mengal Took Nawaz Sharif to Chagai for Nuclear Tests, Now Opposes Them: Zia Langau
Quetta — Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau has accused some politicians of double standards, saying Sardar Akhtar Mengal, as chief minister, took Nawaz Sharif in his car to Chagai for the nuclear tests but later began speaking against those tests after leaving power.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Langau said certain leaders had always shown two faces. He claimed that during Nawab Aslam Raisani’s government in 2008, strong action was taken against terrorism. Those now talking about terrorism, he said, used to challenge militants while in that government, but after losing office they changed their stance and adopted a narrative that, in his words, aligned with militants in order to win public support.
He said the present government’s first priority was to end terrorism. Unfortunately, he added, when someone is made chief minister, strong statements are made against terrorism, but after the government falls some elements change their position for political gain.
Langau described Mir Sadiq Imran as a senior politician who is respected by all, and said politics and humanity have principles that should not be violated.
On the Islamabad workshop, he said Balochistan’s leadership was invited with dignity, and that the prime minister and Field Marshal General Asim Munir answered questions from the province’s political leadership. Treating MPAs, provincial ministers and political leaders with respect at the workshop was a positive step, he said, and should not be given a wrong colour.
Regarding the Pashtun National Jirga, Langau said it would be welcome if its aim was to address Pashtuns’ political and social issues and work against terrorism. His disagreement with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Sardar Akhtar Mengal, he said, had always been that Baloch and Pashtun people should be given awareness and solutions to their problems. Anyone trying to divide Baloch and Pashtun communities would find him their strongest opponent.
He stressed the need to promote unity, awareness and mutual respect between Baloch and Pashtun people instead of politics that seeks to split them.
