Balochistan Package lacked provincial autonomy: Salim

Terming the government's proposed 'Balochistan Package' as a 'copy of the recommendations' made by Shujaat Hussain's Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan, president of his own faction of PML-Q Salim Saifullah Khan on Wednesday said that the government had taken this step in haste.
Urging the government to hold talks with Baloch nationalist leaders, he said that the government should win the confidence of all Baloch leaders, and added that the Baloch leaders must return and initiate dialogue process for provincial autonomy. He said that the package lacked provincial autonomy as it was mainly focusing on resources allocation to the province under NFC award.
Addressing a press conference here, he expressed grave concern over the corruption charges against the sitting ministers, saying that a consistent accountability system, which could function independently, was the need of the hour. About the Balochistan issue, he said that about 50 percent of Balochistan's population consists of Pashtoons and settlers, who have equal rights as enjoyed by Baloch people.
While asking the government to present proof of Indian involvement to the nation, he wondered why the government was shying in tabling evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan. He added that soon after the Mumbai attacks India started holding Pakistan responsible for Mumbai attacks at international level. "If Pakistan has solid proofs of Indian involvement in Balochistan why the government was not following suit? There are concrete proofs of Indian involvement. I know that India has direct involvement in Balochistan, while its agents are using Afghan soil to create unrest in the province," he added.
He said that the Indian agents are trying to create chaos in Pakistan and for this very purpose they are using Afghan soil and the government of Pakistan must raise this issue at international level. He said only media was acting as a vibrant accountability tool, which is a welcome sign for the country. He asked the government to include the era from 1999 to-date, as these ten years could also be included in the accountability course under an autonomous accountability commission.
"We present ourselves for accountability, and the period of PML-Q government should also be included in the accountability process. Moreover, the incumbent government's tenure should also be brought under microscopic accountability as the malpractices by the incumbents are bringing bad name to the country besides fuelling pessimism among the youth of the country," he said.
Saifullah regretted that the government did not hold even a single meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which, he said, was formed as per the 1973 Constitution. While criticising the government he said that the government neither has vision nor direction.
He also advised the government to get rid of its dialogue-phobia with India, saying that if India does not turn to table the rulers can engage Iran, Turkey or China in talks to fulfil their desire for dialogue with neighbouring countries.