ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani met Baloch leader Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal at his residence on Saturday.
According to sources, Prime Minister has assured the Baloch leader that names of Baloch nationalist leaders will be removed from Exit Control List (ECL). Those who are not suspicious will be removed immediately from the list while names of the rest of the people will be struck down after a complete scrutiny.
Gilani asked Sardar Mangal to extend cooperation for the improvement of Balochistan’s situation. Sardar Mangal told the Premier that he will hold talks with other Baloch leaders and brief him about it later.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=104414
Gilani assures Mengal of addressing Baloch grievances
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, on Saturday said that government would do its best to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan, reported the official news agency.
Gilani was talking to media after holding an hour-long meeting with seasoned Baloch leader Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal here at his residence. Mengal was the first eve elected chief minister of Balochistan in early 1970s. When his government was forcefully removed by late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a deadly war of resistance had been initiated by Baloch tribesmen which was brutally crushed by the country’s strong military.
The Prime Minister said that his meeting with Sardar Ataullah Mengal was long overdue and this time he took the opportunity to meet him.
He said that Sardar Ataullah Mengal briefed him about the problems of the people of Balochistan which included the issue of missing persons as well as under-development of various areas of the province.
The Prime Minister assured that the federal and provincial governments would make joint efforts for the development and prosperity of the people of Balochistan.
He further said that he would also ask the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the Parliament, Senator Raza Rabbani, to meet the Baloch leaders as well as elected leaders of Balochistan to apprise them of the benefits of provincial autonomy extended through the enactment of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
When asked about his meeting with other Baloch leaders, the Prime Minister categorically said that he was prepared to meet all the political leaders even those living abroad as and when they return to their homeland.
In the same context, he mentioned that during the tenure of his government not a single political leader or worker has been sent to jail.
With regard to the issue of target killings, he said that he had already instructed the Ministry of Interior to work out the modalities for the security of the citizens.
Sardar Ataullah Mengal thanked the Prime Minister for taking out time to meet him and to listen to his point of view.
Sardar Ataullah Mengal specially mentioned that Baloch people are as good Pakistanis as the people of other parts of the country.
As regards the problems of people of Balochistan, he stated that he has informed the Prime Minister about the problems and he would be looking forward for some visible change.
http://thebalochhal.com/2010/05/gilani-assures-mengal-of-addressing-baloch-grievances
Shahbaz Sharif calls on Ataullah Mengal
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
By Tahir Hasan Khan
Karachi
Chief Minister Punjab and PML-N chief Mian Shahbaz Sharif called on the Baloch nationalist leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal at his Karachi residence on Tuesday.
Shabaz Sharif had arrived in Karachi on Monday to inaugurate the Punjab Investment Conference and to meet the business community representatives, and taking advantage of his visit he held a meeting with Ataullah Mengal.
It was a scheduled meeting for which former speaker National Assembly Illahi Bux Soomro played mediation role and he himself was also present at the meeting. Sources said that the PML-N’s provincial leaders Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Salim Zia also remained present at the meeting for some time but later on, a one-on-one meeting was held between Shahbaz Sharif and Ataullah Mengal.
The outcome of the meeting was not shared with the media, as the PML-N first tried to keep this meeting a secret, but after news of the meeting became public knowledge, party leaders avoided to reveal details of the meeting to the media. Later, provincial party leaders promised that the party would make announcement about the meeting from Lahore.
However, the provincial leadership of the PML-N claimed that Mian Shahbaz Sharif was making serious efforts to dispel the impression that a gulf exists between the Balochs and Punjab, and wanted to bring close both the Balochi and Punjabi communities.
According to sources, Mian Shahbaz Sharif is also in contact with Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Changez Marri and son of late Nawab Akbar Bugti. Political observers hinted that this meeting could help defuse the tension prevailing among the people who belong to Punjab but living in Balochistan.
The meeting between the chief minister Punjab and Baloch nationalist leader was a part of political efforts as well as to give the message to the elements active in Balochistan for their rights. The killing of educationists and other professionals in Balochistan had created panic among the people belonging to other provinces and living in Balochistan.
The recent murder of lady Professor Nazima Talib forced many people to leave the province, as hundreds of teachers, professors and doctors serving in Balochistan have applied for their transfer to other provinces, besides thousands of families have migrated due to security reasons.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=237559
US diplomat meets Khan of Kalat family
QUETTA - Karachi-based US Consul General Stephen G Fakan has met some family members of Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Daud in Kalat Town.
This was the first meeting of any US diplomat with the family members of Khan of Kalat who was in self-exile in London for the last four years.
According to sources, the prevailing situation of Balochistan also came under discussion during the meeting. It may be mentioned that Khan of Kalat had not only convened an important jirga of Baloch tribal elders after the assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti but he had also left the country.
Some sources claimed that attempts were made on behalf of some important personalities to bring Khan of Kalat back to Pakistan but so far these efforts have not succeeded.
Khan of Kalat had also rejected any negotiations with the govt without presence or assurance of international guarantors.
Political observers were attaching great importance to the meeting of a senior US diplomat with the family members of Khan of Kalat. However, it could not be known whether this was a courtesy call or any attempt on behalf of some foreign diplomats for improvement of situation in Balochistan because US and its allies were considering peace in Pakistan indispensable for their success in war against Taliban in Afghanistan.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Islamabad/02-May-2010/US-diplomat-meets-Khan-of-Kalat-family
Gazin Marri planning to return to Balochistan
The Baloch Hal
QUETTA: Nawabzada Gazin Marri, a prominent Baloch nationalist leader and a son of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, the elderly Baloch nationalist, is planning to return to Pakistan after establishing contacts with influential Pakistani authorities, reported the local media.
According to Daily Mashriq, Quetta, Nawabzada Gazain Marri, who is currently residing in Dubai, is planning to come back to Pakistan to meet his father and mother. He has already established contacts with high-ranking Pakistani officials to prepare for his upcoming visit to Balochistan.
“I am not afraid of jails,” the newspaper quoted Gazin Marri, “I am waiting for the instructions of my family elders. As soon as they ask me to come back to my native country, I will come back to Balochistan.”
Gazin, who is believed to be a very good personal friend of Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari, was quoted as saying that the latter was sincere towards the settlement of Balochistan’s issues but the Establishment and empowered quarters in the country did not tolerate the Baloch leaders.
Sources said Gazin, also a former provincial minister, would go back to Dubai after visiting his aged parents to inquire about their health. The news of Gazin’s plans to come back to Pakistan was carried on the front pages of Baloch newspapers such as Tawar and Intekhab on Saturday.
http://thebalochhal.com/2010/05/gazin-marri-planning-to-return-to-pak
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