Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that both federal and military leadership are supporting the present provincial government's dialogue process with the estranged Baloch leaders and "we are ready to negotiate on all issues within the ambit of constitution. He lauded Lieutenant General Nasir Janjua (Retd) for playing positive role in establishing law and order in Balochistan.
He said that the past provincial governments did not enjoy the support of federation and military for dialogue and that's why talks with insurgents were impossible. However, Dr Malik warned that to resolve issues of the province once and for all, there was a need to change the mindset otherwise no one would be able to control sixth rebellion in the province. The chief minister was addressing a national seminar organised by Punjab University and Pakistan Institute for National Affairs (PINA) at PU's Al Raazi Hall, here on Monday.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Railways Khawja Saad Rafique, Former caretaker CM Balochistan Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Barozai, Interior Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti, Baluchistan National Party's Ghulam Nabi Marri, former Federal Law Minister S. M. Zafar, PU VC Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Secretary General PINA Altaf Hassan Qureshi, JI leader Liaqat Baloch, Prince Ahmad Ali, senior journalists and a large number of students from Balochistan were present on the occasion.
Dr Malik said that law and order situation in Balochistan had improved markedly as in Quetta city, which used to be shut down after Maghrib prayers, now markets remained open till 3:00 am on the eve of Eid. He said that NP's leadership had made Balochistan's non-functional government functional and the government had started providing education and health facilities and job opportunities to the people.