Surab Incident Condemnable, Balochistan’s Basic Issues Must Be Addressed: Dr Abdul Malik Baloch
QUETTA (Daily Qudrat): Former Balochistan chief minister and National Party central leader Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said the Surab incident is condemnable and called for serious attention to Balochistan to address the province’s fundamental problems.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the National Party would continue its political and democratic struggle amid the prevailing difficult circumstances and would further strengthen and organize the party.
He said Mir Ahmed Marri, along with his community members, friends and relatives from 60 families, had joined the National Party. He welcomed the new members and said people from different communities and segments of society were joining the party because of its people-friendly policies, adding that more people would join in the future.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the National Party had the ability to help the country overcome its challenges and did not pursue power or ministries. He said the party had received offers of ministries in the past but had always preferred principled politics.
Expressing concern over the current situation in Balochistan, the former chief minister said fears of bombing in the province had already existed, while the incident in Surab was highly condemnable. He said the prevailing situation had made life difficult for the people and that threats existed from both sides.
He demanded that Balochistan be made a serious focus of attention and that its fundamental problems be resolved through practical measures.
Speaking about proposals for the creation of new provinces, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch questioned who had actually demanded the creation of new provinces. He said the National Party opposed the division of provinces and would not only condemn such moves but also resist them through political means.
He maintained that provinces should be created on the basis of history, culture and ground realities rather than at the desire of any individual or institution.
The former chief minister said that whenever pressure came from powerful circles, discussions about creating new provinces began. He alleged that the issue was also brought into debate to intimidate politicians and warned that such measures would push the country further towards underdevelopment.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the National Party had presented a 17-point agenda to the federal government for resolving Balochistan’s problems and would continue its political and democratic struggle to achieve these demands.
Commenting on the situation of farmers in Balochistan, he said the province’s farmers were not serious about bringing an end to the ongoing conflict.
He stressed the need for permanent political stability and serious policymaking in the country, saying that the positions of government and opposition were not permanent. Those in power today could be in prison tomorrow, while those in prison today could be in power tomorrow, he remarked.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the country needed long-term political stability and consistent policies rather than temporary political arrangements.
