Peace Conference in Quetta soon: Malik

QUETTA: Interior Minster Rehman Malik has said the government had been going to call in a peace conference of local and
19 Oct, 2011

"Religious scholars and other stakeholders from different walks of life from across the country and abroad will be invited to attend Peace Conference in Quetta to end sectarian hated and violence," Malik said. He was talking to media at Sarawan House Quetta after meeting with Senator and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Haji Lashkari Raisani here on Wednesday.

The Interior Minister said that some extremist elements were involved in activities to damage peace of Balochistan and added the government would utilize its all available resources to resolve law and order issue in the province.

"We will not allow anti-peace elements to implement their nefarious designs," he said.

Referring to missing person issue he said that total number of missing persons hailing from Balochistan was 54 and not 6,000. "I have discussed missing persons issue with Lashkari Raisani and I will inform President Asif Ali Zardari about the reservations of Raisani in this regard," he said adding that both federal and provincial governments had been making efforts to resolve missing persons issue as early as possible.

He added that Commission set up on missing persons issue was active and discharging its services effectively. He said the PPP-led government was aware of backwardness of Balochistan and wanted to put the province on the track of progress and prosperity.

"Balochistan province is rich in mines and minerals and the government will utilize the wealth of natural resources for the development of the province," Malik pledged.

On this occasion, Haji Lashkari Raisani said that Balochistan was victim of international great game. He emphasized the need to ensure recovery of missing persons. He said that the Interior Minster had assured him that he would take up the issue with relevant authorities.

"The Interior Minister has assured me that the federal government would make efforts to bring angry Baloch youth into mainstream," he said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

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