Government unveils progressive agenda
Parliamentary committee was working to draft constitutional reforms to address the issues of provincial autonomy
Islamabad: The government Tuesday launched a major initiative to win over the estranged people of Balochistan, unveiling political, administrative and economic proposals for the insurgency-plagued province in parliament.
It said a parliamentary committee was working to draft constitutional reforms to address the issues of provincial autonomy and provincial control on regional resources.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the announcement of the package was a landmark event towards fulfilment of aspirations of people of the largest but least populated province in the country, which is nevertheless rich in mineral resources.
"People of Balochistan will get equal economic, political and constitutional rights at par with [the] other three provinces of the country," Gilani said.
Probe into Bugti killing
A fact-finding commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or high court would probe the circumstances leading to the death of Balochistan nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 in an army operation during the regime of former military strongman Pervez Musharraf.
Inviting "estranged brethren" in Balochistan to dialogue, Gilani extended a hand of reconciliation.
"We sincerely invite to dialogue, from the floor of this parliament, those political forces of Balochistan that are outside the national mainstream," he said.
The prime minister said he was confident that the "angry brethren" would respond positively to the offer.
