Zardari’s Spokesperson for Balochistan Offers Dialogue with Disgruntled Baloch
Hub:Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, the Provincial Minister of Balochistan and spokesperson for President Zardari, stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is ready to engage in dialogue with the disgruntled Baloch. He emphasized that Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti’s statement regarding military action in the province being the “last option” was an expression of emotions, but not an official policy statement by PPP.
Speaking at a press conference in Lida, Zehri reiterated that the PPP is prepared to negotiate with Baloch nationalists, including Akhtar Mengal and all other political leaders. He stressed that the issue of Balochistan cannot be solved through violence, but through dialogue. Zehri affirmed that President Asif Ali Zardari supports resolving the Balochistan issue through negotiations, adding that the whole nation is saddened by the tragic incident of the Jaffar Express attack.
He also pointed out that despite the slogan “Pakistan Khapay” after the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari, a Baloch himself, has always stood for the prosperity of Balochistan, highlighting the development efforts that started with the “Aaghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan” package in 2013. Zehri mentioned that Zardari’s recent visit to China resulted in seven agreements, which would bring billions of rupees in foreign investment to Balochistan. Additionally, an agreement with Ukraine to bring water to Balochistan via a pipeline is in its final stages, which would help irrigate barren lands and boost agriculture in the region.
Zehri invited the disgruntled Baloch to join the negotiating table, emphasizing that the solution to Balochistan’s issues lies not in violence or abuse but in dialogue. He stated, “We need to sit together and resolve our issues through conversation, not through guns or words of hate.” Expressing deep sorrow over the Jaffar Express attack, Zehri condemned the loss of precious lives, particularly the soldiers who had always been ready to assist in times of crisis.
