President Asif Ali Zardari’s Address to Balochistan Parliamentary Leaders on Key Issues
Quetta:President Asif Ali Zardari** has expressed his commitment to ensuring the rights of the people of Balochistan and the entire nation. Speaking during a meeting with members of Balochistan’s parliamentary parties in Quetta on Wednesday, he emphasized that the government aims to give people their due rights, not take them away. He stressed that by granting rights, the hearts of the people would be won. President Zardari also pledged to take actions in the public interest that would be remembered as historic milestones for the province. He announced that after Eid, he would set up a camp in Balochistan to listen to people’s concerns in detail.
**Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)**, **Bilawal Bhutto Zardari**, also attended the meeting, which was attended by leaders from various political parties in the Balochistan Assembly, including the opposition leader **Mir Yunus Aziz Zehri**. These leaders presented their suggestions regarding the issues facing the province and ways to improve the welfare of the people.
In his address, President Zardari highlighted his longstanding relationship and deep affection for the people of Balochistan. He reaffirmed that the development and well-being of Balochistan had always been his top priority. Referring to the **18th Constitutional Amendment**, which granted greater autonomy to the provinces, he stated that **national unity** was essential for moving Pakistan forward. He reiterated, “We want to give people their rights, not take them away. Only by giving rights will we win their hearts.”
President Zardari promised that the government’s initiatives in Balochistan would be fruitful, and steps would be taken that would be remembered as golden moments in the province’s history. He further announced that after Eid, he would personally visit Balochistan and hold a camp where he would listen to everyone’s concerns in detail.
In the meeting, **Mir Yunus Aziz Zehri**, the opposition leader, expressed appreciation for the efforts of **Chief Minister Mir Sardar Fazal Baggti** and assured full cooperation. The meeting was attended by the **Acting Governor of Balochistan**, **Captain (Retd.) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai**, **Chief Minister Mir Sardar Fazal Baggti**, **National Party Leader Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch**, **Pakistan Muslim League’s Parliamentary Leader** and Provincial Minister **Mir Saleem Khan Khoso**, **Awami National Party’s Parliamentary Leader** **Engineer Zamark Khan Achakzai**, and **Jamaat-e-Islami’s Member** **Mir Abdul Majid Badini**, along with members of the provincial cabinet, provincial ministers, parliamentary secretaries, and MPAs.
**Tackling Terrorism and Promoting Peace in Balochistan**
In another session at the **Chief Minister’s Secretariat**, President Zardari addressed the **security situation** in Balochistan and emphasized the government’s commitment to defeating **terrorist elements**. He stated that terrorists aimed to divide the nation, but the state must remain united in this battle. “The situation is clear: the state will remain, and we will win the war against terrorism,” he declared.
He also pledged to equip the **anti-terrorism wing** with modern weapons to ensure greater security. President Zardari reiterated his desire for **sustainable peace** and development in Balochistan and stressed that every child in the province should have access to education. He emphasized the importance of introducing children to modern technology, saying it was the need of the hour.
The meeting on **security** was attended by key officials, including **Acting Governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai**, **Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir Khan**, and **Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari**, among other senior officials.
