Abdul Malik Baloch and Sanaullah Zehri sit in front of a portrait of Mir Ghous Bux Bizenjo at the ceremony.—White Star

KARACHI: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that the issue of Balochistan is of political nature and it can only be resolved through dialogue and political struggle within the framework of Pakistan. He said he had been trying to convince “our angry Baloch brothers to hold talks to solve problems as enough blood of our youths has already been shed and the economy of the province is ruined and institutions have been destroyed”.

Addressing a ceremony held in connection with the 26th death anniversary of Mir Ghous Bux Bizenjo at the Karachi Arts Council auditorium under the auspices of Bizenjo Yadgari Committee, Dr Malik said that the situation requested the people to follow the example set by the late Mir Sahib who throughout his life remained committed to democracy, the people and nation-friendly principles and struggled hard to achieve his ideological targets through peaceful means.

Also read: Army to back Balochistan’s quest for peace, progress

He said that one military dictator had set Balochistan on fire and “despite our best efforts to douse it we are still struggling to bring it under control”.

He said that the 18th Amendment was the outcome of democratic struggle and sacrifices of political forces against military dictators, and pledged that if undemocratic forces attempted to pack up democracy “we will also face them like our elders and defend democracy”.

Recalling the leadership qualities of Mir Sahib, Dr Malik said that he had such a great quality to persuade others that even the leadership of NAP, despite having differences with Mir Sahab, used to accept his arguments.

The Balochistan chief minister called upon the people who had worked with Mir Sahib and witnessed his political struggle very closely to carry out research and write books in the correct historical perspective.

He said that Balochs were always attracted by different slogans, but now the situation demanded the right steps in the right direction.

National Party President Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, who is son of late Mir Ghous Bux Bizenjo, in his presidential remarks recalled the history of the party and said that the NP was formed to bring all progressive people on one platform as it was the need of the hour because terrorism and religious extremism could not be eliminated from the military operation because it was a mindset which could only be defeated through revival of progressive ideology.

Blachistan government’s Senior Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that youths of Balochistan, who did not agree with him today and insisted on liberating Balochistan through the gun, would have to carry out democratic struggle like him after three to four years later under the banner of different political parties in the country.

Mir Tahir Bizenjo said that Balochsitan and Karachi issues were political ones and they could be solved only through political means.

Others speakers who paid tribute to Mir Sahib for his contribution to democratic struggle and restoration of democracy in the country included President of Atrts Council Ahmad Shah, Hameed Baloch, President of Karachi Press Club Fazil Jameeli, Labour leader Karamat Ali, Ms Fehmida Riaz and Mujahid Barelvi, who also conducted the function.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2015

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