Baloch leaders, lawmakers unhappy with package

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the Balochistan package, Baloch nationalist leaders and parliamentarians termed it merely a “jugglery of words”. Talking to reporters at Parliament House, National Party (NP) senators Dr Abdul Malik and Hasil Bizenjo and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Senator Ismail Buledi voiced grave concern over the package. They said the government should take practical steps, as mere announcement was not the solution of problems. Malik said the package would further increase hopelessness among the people of the province. “This new package will add to problems of the people of Balochistan,” he said. Bizenjo said the government had not addressed the military operation in the province and had not come up with “concrete steps” to resolve the crisis. Buledi said the real concerns of the Baloch had not been addressed in the package. Senate Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali welcomed the package, saying, “The crucial phase will come when constitutional reforms for the province will be announced.” Separately, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Talal Akbar Bugti refuted the package. Talking to a private TV channel, he demanded that the government withdraw army from the province. Balochistan Nationalist Party leader Habib Jalib said the package did not reflect the will of the Baloch, as it had not given them a constitutional guarantee. Baloch leader Sanaullah Baloch said the Baloch had lost their confidence in the federal government. He said the package should be action-oriented. JWP leader Shahzain Bugti said, “We don’t accept the package. The government has not consulted the real representatives of the Baloch.” irfan bukhari/ daily times monitor

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_2