Balochistan All Parties Conference Calls for Implementation of Ziarat Accord and Free Elections
QUETTA: Leaders of several political parties have called for the implementation of the Ziarat incident agreement, electoral reforms, and fresh free and fair elections in Balochistan following the third meeting of the All Parties Conference (APC) held in Quetta.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Quetta Press Club, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Balochistan chief Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay, alongside National Party President Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, Awami National Party (ANP) Balochistan President Asghar Khan Achakzai, and leaders of other political parties, said the conference held detailed discussions on the province’s political and security situation and reached several key decisions.
Maulana Abdul Wasay urged the government to immediately implement the agreement reached after the Ziarat incident and end what he described as a policy of sidelining political parties. He announced that the next All Parties Conference will be held in September, with the participation of the central leadership of all participating parties.
He reiterated his criticism of the current political system, saying the “Form-47 system” was not functioning effectively and claimed that even the provincial Home Minister had acknowledged shortcomings in governance. He demanded that elected representatives be allowed to govern and called for the dissolution of the provincial assemblies and the holding of free, fair, and transparent general elections in Balochistan.
Abdul Wasay said political parties are best positioned to help resolve the crises facing the province and the country, stressing that meaningful reforms should be introduced without delay. He noted that National Party President Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch had presented a 17-point agenda to stakeholders. While acknowledging concerns about possible foreign interference, he said it was equally important to examine the reasons behind growing public distrust. He also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, describing Balochistan’s highways as unsafe.
The JUI-F leader also expressed disappointment over the decision of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party to convene a Pashtun Jirga instead of participating in the APC, saying the opposition leadership should have brought all political parties together on a common platform. He stressed that political issues should be resolved through political dialogue, warning that Balochistan could not afford ethnic divisions between Baloch and Pashtuns.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said all political forces must unite to resolve Balochistan’s long-standing issues and pledged to continue joint efforts under Maulana Abdul Wasay’s leadership. Commenting on the debate over creating new provinces, he said it was an attempt to divert public attention from the real issues facing the country, adding that constitutional matters, the National Finance Commission (NFC), and the 18th Constitutional Amendment were repeatedly turned into controversies instead of addressing public concerns.
Meanwhile, ANP Balochistan President Asghar Khan Achakzai strongly condemned the killing of Asma Jatak’s father in Khuzdar. Referring to the case, he said the woman’s fiancé, uncle, and now her father had all been killed after she reportedly refused a marriage proposal. He questioned the government’s claims of maintaining law and order if it could not ensure the safety of a woman in her own home. Achakzai also pledged that any attempt to undermine unity among Baloch, Pashtun, Hazara, and other communities in Balochistan would be resisted.
