- We requested PML-N chief to travel to Balochistan and so we can resolve this issue amicably as we did in 2013: Dr Baloch
- BNP-M’s sit-in led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal continues at Lakpass for 13th consecutive day
LAHORE: National Party chief Abdul Maalik Baloch on Wednesday expressed his confidence that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif will play a vibrant role in resolving Balochistan’s issues.
“The three-time premier is one of the country’s senior-most politicians and we have requested him to play his due role. He (Mian sahib) has agreed to play a role in resolving Balochistan’s issues, whether they are political or economic,” former Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch stated while talking to the media after a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.
The NP chief’s comments come as a protest by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) entered 13th day against the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s (BYC) leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch.
Additionally, protest movements have erupted across the province, with a large ongoing sit-in at Lakpass led by the BNP-M.
The ex-CM said that the people of Balochistan had put their hopes in Nawaz and his team to help resolve the ongoing crisis.
“Balochistan has been bleeding for two decades,” Baloch said, adding that the people of Balochistan are hopeful that Nawaz Sharif will play a positive role in relieving economic and political issues.
Mentioning the BNP-M’s sit-in and the arrest of Baloch rights activists, Baloch said that he and Nawaz had a detailed discussion on the situation in the province.
“We requested that he travel to Balochistan and spend a few days there, meeting with political leaders, so that we can resolve this issue amicably as we did in 2013,” Baloch added.
Expressing gratitude to Nawaz and senior PML-N leaders for welcoming the delegation, Baloch reiterated that the PML-N president’s role was essential in solving the crisis and requested that he play a role in securing the release of Baloch activists from jail.
He expressed hope that the Baloch people would not “live in isolation, but join hands with the people of Pakistan to resolve these issues”.
In response to a question about the nature of the crisis, the former CM replied, “This is a political issue that requires a political solution”.
The PML-N uploaded a photograph of the two figures meeting, stating that “a detailed discussion was held on the overall national situation and matters pertaining to Balochistan.”
During the meeting, Baloch congratulated the former premier on his party’s work on curbing inflation and reducing electricity prices.
BNP-M sit-in marks 13th day
Meanwhile, the BNP-M’s sit-in led by party chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal continues at Lakpass entered 13th day.
Addressing the sit-in, Mengal said that negotiations with the government failed and that bringing ministers to meet with him was “futile”.
“Our sit-in continues as no progress has been made by the government,” he said. “Despite contact with the central leadership of the PML-N and the federal government, no progress has been made yet and former Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani came in a personal capacity, he did not talk about ending the sit-in.”
Mengal remarked that this was “the first government in the world that has affected the people by closing roads”, adding that the demonstrators did not block any major arteries over the past 13 days.
“The government has closed the Quetta-Karachi National Highway for the past 13 days to stop the long march,” he said. “Due to the closure, the business community and travellers are facing major difficulties.”
