World | Pakistan
Gilani in touch with Baloch leaders
He was speaking to reporters two days after the government presented a set of proposals to the parliament
- By Mohsin Ali, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 November 27, 2009
Islamabad: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday he was in contact with Baloch nationalist leaders including those living in exile, as part of the government's initiative for dialogue to end the unrest in Balochistan province.
He was speaking to reporters two days after the government presented a set of proposals to the parliament to address the grievances of people of the largest but least populated region, which borders Afghanistan.
The package envisages judicial probes into murders of some Baloch nationalist leaders, release of political detainees, recovery of missing people and economic uplift measures.
It promises 5,000 jobs for Balochistan graduates over and above the province's normal quota in government employment and greater provincial autonomy through constitutional reforms being worked out by a parliamentary committee.
Initiative
Gilani said he was hopeful the major initiative to turn the situation in the insurgency-plagued province would bear fruit. "I have contacts with Baloch leaders in the country and those in exile, but I cannot disclose details prematurely," he said.
He said the proposals would be further fine-tuned in light of suggestions to be made during the forthcoming debate early next month in the parliament on the Balochistan package.
The prime minister vowed that the road map for ending the sense of deprivation existing in the people of Balochistan would be implemented without delay and through concrete actions.
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