Raisani says situation not as grim as projected in media
Mumtaz Alvi
Quetta: Balochistan chief minister Muhammad Aslam Raisani has called for projecting the positive aspects of his province and said he wants to resolve the deep-rooted issues by spending more on people.
Raisani, a cool administrator, who had actively participated in the historic grand Baloch Jirga, presided over by the Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Daud after the killing of veteran Baloch leader and ex-chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti, plays down the ‘destabilising militancy’ factor and strongly believes those taking innocent lives were now faced with isolation.
The forum had decided to approach the International Court of Justice for reversal of the agreement between Quaid-e-Azam and the then Khan of Kalat on accession of the state to Pakistan. However, afterwards, Mir Daud left Pakistan, but Raisani preferred to stick to national politics and took part in the 2008 elections.
He claims the situation is not being presented in its true perspective to the rest of Pakistan. He says things have considerably improved due to a policy of reconciliation and launching developmental projects in various districts.
The chief minister shows no hesitation in mixing up with his cabinet members, who are a record 57 in the 65-member assembly. “This is my success that the House witnesses harmony and consensus on key issues confronting us today,” he remarked.
He insists those having doubts about what is going on in the half of Pakistan should visit the province to understand its peculiar texture. “The picture is not the one being painted today,” he claimed.
It should go as a record in parliamentary history that the provincial assembly passes budget without a single voice of opposition, as there are only three legislators, who are supposed to sit on the opposition benches i.e Yar Muhammad Rind, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani and Mir Bakhtiar Domki but none of them attends the assembly session due to various reasons.
Talking to a group of media persons at his chamber in the Balochistan Assembly, the chief minister says security situation in some pockets was not good but overall things were under his government’s control.
He dispelled the impression the security forces were out of his control and that they acted on their own; he also says there is no parallel government in Balochistan. The chief minister reiterated his stance that there should be a new social contract and the 1940 Resolution should be its benchmark.
“There is no harm in reviewing the present arrangement between the Centre and the provinces and our province due to its tribal colour should not be misunderstood,” he maintained.
The chief minister says they have a success story of running Kalat state for 350 years in a very peaceful manner, taking along all segments of society through a tribal set-up, guided by a majlis-e-shoora. Raisani, who leads his tribe, is also the deputy head of Kalat.
Asked if it was of any use now when despite his repeated offers of talks, those who had gone to mountains and left Pakistan to spearhead their campaign for the ‘liberation of Balochistan’, were not ready to respond positively to his overtures, he remarked, “they will have to ultimately come to a negotiating table, if Pakistan and India can talk, why can’t the elements living within Balochistan?”
About the formation of the largest cabinet, he said it was vital to have political stability to address the people of Balochistan’s deep-rooted problems such as backwardness, poverty, ignorance, health and education issues.
Source: The News
Date:7/2/2011
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