Dubai: Chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said he will announce a new package for the people of Balochistan province, who he says are deprived of their rights.
"We will address grievances of our Baloch brothers through reconciliatory talks in a democratic way and will end military operation," said Imran Khan, who held a crucial meeting in Dubai with an important Baloch leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and former chief minister of Balochistan province.
The talks were a part of Khan's strategy to make inroads into Balochistan — the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area — and muster support of Baloch nationalist leaders, who are at daggers drawn with the government and, especially, against Pakistan army.
Reconciliation
He wants to reconcile with them before his April 6 public rally in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province, after showing his political strength in rallies in Lahore and Karachi.
"I am taking my ‘tsunami' to Quetta to get support of the Baloch brothers and address their grievances. I will give them a new package to get them their rights," he said.
The anti-Pakistan sentiments among Baloch nationalist groups are so strong that Khan was forced to change the date of his rally from March 23 (which is Pakistan National Day) to April 6 to avoid any confrontation. Many Baloch nationalist groups do not celebrate this day.
A close aide of Khan told Gulf News that his meeting with Mengal was very positive and will go a long way in bringing the PTI and Baloch nationalist parties together for the good of Balochistan.
"I am also going to UK to meet some more Baloch leaders who are living in exile," said Khan but did to reveal their names
Some of the key issues are royalty on natural gas and other natural resources, unemployment, and provincial autonomy.
The nationalists also want to put an end to military operation against them and also target killing.
Put on hold
The Baloch nationalists' sentiments were flared after the killing of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and the government has been forced to put on hold several development projects including the Gwadar port and exploration for oil and gas.
Bugti was killed in a military operation in Balochistan during Pervez Musharraf's tenure as president. Musharraf is wanted in the Bugti murder case by a court.
Khan said he will also meet with Jamil Bugti, son of the slain Baloch leader.
Jamil Bugti is fighting a legal battle for the accountability of those behind what he called the assassination of his father killed in a Kohlu cave, Balochistan, in August 2006.
Khan observed earlier that the current government is incompetent and lacks political will to resolve the issues of national importance.
He expressed concern over the breakdown of law and order in Balochistan and deprivation of the rights of the Baloch.
