All-parties conference on Balochistan within days: Gilani

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Prime minister says it is incorrect to say govt has ‘forgotten’ the province

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday he was planning to call an all-parties conference (APC) on Balochistan “within days”.

“It was decided, during the last APC, to hold a separate APC on Balochistan, and we are planning to call it within days,” he said during a briefing to television reporters on the military operation in Malakand division.

Replying to a question, he said it was incorrect to say that the government had forgotten the issue of Balochistan and that is why it has been decided to take all parties into confidence on various issues confronting the province.

Gilani said that it was no small feat to care for some 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and as soon as things were in order, he would personally visit their camps.

“I visited Balochistan after the earthquake there as I wanted to do something practical for them ... I will definitely go to these [IDP] camps once things are streamlined there,” he said in response to a question.

The prime minister said the reason why no high-value targets, except one, had so far been killed in the military operation in Swat was that they (the Taliban) did not expose themselves very often. “It will take some time,” he added. He said the government would pursue its three `r’ policy with regard to IDPs – relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

He said the Special Support Group, headed by an experienced army general, has been set up for this purpose, which is being assisted by the ministries of finance, defence and information.

Speaking about the holding of an APC on the military operation in Swat, he said it was for the first time that the whole nation had emerged as one on the issue. app

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