The Baloch Hal News

GWADAR/KECH/AWARAN: Several districts of Balochistan remained completely shut on Friday to protest Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s two-day long visit to Balochistan to express resentment against the government policies toward the Baloch people.

The Baloch National Movement (B.N.M.) had given the call for the shutter down strike which was also backed by the Baloch Republican Party and several local organizations.

Life remained completely paralyzed in the districts of Gwadar, Turbat, Awaran and a number of other tehsils. All businesses, government offices, schools and non-governmental organizations remained closed on the call of the Baloch nationalists who said that the people of Balochistan did not welcome Pakistani Prime Minister’s visit to their province because they viewed him responsible for the disappearance  torture and  killing of thousands of Baloch youths.

“The successful strike reflected the people’s anger in Balochistan toward Pakistan,” said a spokesman of the B.N.M. Turbat chapter.

Published in The Baloch Hal on November 11, 2012

From Associated Press of Pakistan 

GWADAR: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday approved a project with an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 billion for provision of Water Supply to the people of Gwadar. This was announced in response to a pressing demand by Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani and the Members of his Cabinet. Speaking to a special meeting of the Balochistan Cabinet here, the Prime Minister said that the federal government will bear 50 percent of the cost while the balance will be borne by the Government of Balochistan. The Prime Minister also announced to make Jiwani a Model Town and directed the provincial government to present a proposal for the project.

He announced that the federal government also released funds for the construction of Gwadar-Ratodaro Road to improve connectivity.

The Cabinet meeting held with the Provincial Cabinet Members led by Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani sitting traditionally on the floor.

The Prime Minister was presented a Balochi Chaddar before the commencement of Cabinet meeting, which started with the recitation from the Holy Quran.

The Prime Minister said that the root cause of most of the problems lies in our failure in establishing democratic order in Pakistan in general and Balochistan in particular.

He said that the developed countries were able to progress because of democracy and continuity in their policies.

Pervez said that the Balochistan Cabinet is an example that the people of different parties and views have synergized their energies and managed to complete the term of their government. This, he said, was no mean achievement. “You can use your strengths and pool up your resources for the overall benefit of the people of Balochistan,” he added.

Alluding to the National Finance Commission Award, he termed it as a step in right direction which brought in betterment for the people of Balochistan and other provinces.

He said it was unheard that any person could have divested himself of powers vested in him. President Asif Ali Zardari voluntarily surrendered his powers to the Parliament by consenting to amend the Constitution whereby his powers were transferred to the Parliament.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the PPP took over the government in 2008 in very challenging circumstances when the financial position of the country was on the verge of bankruptcy. The PPP-led coalition government, under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, has been pursuing the policy of reconciliation and has now achieved the historic landmark of being the first elected government in Pakistan which has completed its tenure.

He congratulated the Balochistan government for having completed its tenure. “We have together laid down a fundamental on which we can erect a building.”

The Prime Minister said that Aghaz-e-Hoqooq-e-Balochistan was a step to start working towards the development and progress of the people of Balochistan.

He said that we need to dispel the misperception about the law & order situation in Balochistan. The perception has been created by exaggerating accounts and events in Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said that when he assumed the office he consulted a variety of people, including the Government of Balochistan and the people who have knowledge of Balochistan to find a viable solution for the law & order situation in Balochistan.

He said that as a first step, he decided to post competent officers of repute to improve the law & order situation in the province. In this connection, he formulated a transfer and posting policy so that the competent officers are posted in Balochistan. Despite tremendous pressure, he did not waver from the policy nor did he accept any pressure regarding transfers.

As a result, the situation has started slowly improving. Earlier, he said, officers in Balochistan were sent as a punishment. Such officers were unwilling and not fully motivated. If one is sincere and committed to hold merit then results are always in the public interest. He expressed the hope that the situation in Balochistan will show improvement due to the collective efforts made by the Government of Pakistan and Balochistan.

The Chief Minister Balochistan thanked the Prime Minister for addressing the Cabinet and taking the Provincial Government into confidence. He also thanked the Prime Minister for approving projects which will go a long way in improving the standards of living of the people of Balochistan.

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 9, 2012

By Malik Siraj Akbar

There seems consensus among Pakistani and American experts that the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential elections in the United States would barely lead to any policy change in Washington towards Pakistan. The Baloch diaspora in the United States, nonetheless, views the US polls with a different set of expectations. They have their reasons to support both the candidates because none of them has indicated to be soft on Pakistan.

The Baloch say that whether it is a Democrat or a Republican who wins the battle for the White House, what serves their interests is the notion that Pakistan be destined to face a demanding American president. An administration in Washington that rebukes Pakistan for its human rights record provides the Baloch some hope of relief from Islamabad’s current harsh policies.

In 2012, Balochistan attracted significant attention in Washington. Expressions of concern by the US Congress and the State Department over the situation in Balochistan has worried Islamabad.

On their part, the Pakistani government and media have repeatedly objected to discussions in the US that addressed Balochistan, arguing that issues pertaining to the region were Pakistan’s “internal matter”.

Members of the Baloch diaspora have been actively interacting with US policymakers, human rights groups and the media to create awareness with respect to the situation in Balochistan.

Also, sections of the Pakistani military and right-wing politicians believe the United States supports the Baloch nationalist movement.

There is no official confirmation of such a policy from the US government. However, authorities at the Pakistani embassy in Washington have been endeavouring to cancel and disrupt events that discuss Balochistan in the US capital. The region, on the other hand, is getting more attention than ever before at American think-tanks and universities.

Islamabad was outraged in Feb 2012 when Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a member of the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired an exclusive session on Balochistan.

Joined by three Republicans and one Democratic member of the US Congress, the hearing supported the Baloch demand for an independent state.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Sherry Rehman, termed the hearing an “ill-advised move” which could be “detrimental” to building trust between Pakistan and the United States.

The ambassador’s protest did not deter Rohrabacher. On Feb 18, only 10 days after the controversial hearing, he, along with two other members of the US Congress, moved a resolution in the House of Representatives demanding independence for the Baloch people.

Moreover, on March 27, Rohrabacher addressed a press conference at Washington’s National Press Club to reaffirm his support for a free Balochistan.

“Mr Rohrabacher is a hero for the Baloch nation,” says Akram Baloch, a leader of the Baloch diaspora and a US national who lives in Philadelphia.

Baloch, who personally attended the hearing and the press conference, says the developments in the United States have proved that Balochistan is an “international dispute” and Pakistan should be held accountable for its actions against the Baloch.

“We appreciate the American legislators who stood for the rights of the Baloch people and we request them to play their role in ending the gross human rights violations in Balochistan and in granting us the right to self-determination,” says Baloch who had formerly contested elections in his native Kharan district in Balochistan.

The impression that the Balochistan issue is only raised by some anti-Pakistan members of the US Congress is not correct. The US government has also frequently voiced concerns on the state of affairs in Balochistan.

For instance, on Oct 30, 2012, the United States expressed “deep concern” over the violence in the region in Geneva at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Washington blamed Pakistani security forces for carrying out ““kill-and-dump” operations [in Balochistan] that target numerous civil society actors, including Baloch activists and their family members, as well as journalists, activists and student leaders.”

On Jan 13, 2012, Victoria Nuland, the spokeswoman for the State Department, said the United States was “deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan”. She stated that the US took the allegations of human rights violations very seriously and said America had “discussed these issues with the Pakistani officials”, urging them to “really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes this issue forward”.

Moreover, on Nov 15, 2011, Mark C. Toner, deputy spokesman at the State Department, had also stated that the US government had “broader concerns about the situation there [in Balochistan] and the freedom of the press…and when we do have those concerns, we raise them with the Government of Pakistan.”

Furthemore, the State Department had in its 2011 Human Rights Report referred to targeted killings and enforced disappearances in Balochistan where “ nationalist, political and intellectual leaders remained targets of attacks.”

All of the above statements reflect that the Obama administration is displeased with Islamabad’s policy in Balochistan.

“We have great respect for both political parties in the US,” says former Senator Sanaullah Baloch of the Balochistan National Party.

“Whichever candidate wins the elections, the impact will be profound for the region,” he says.

“We do hope that the new US administration will rethink its closed-door policy towards the marginalised Baloch people – and embrace democracy-defenders, political activists, journalists and students who are being ruthlessly eliminated over their political opinions,” says the former senator.

He says Balochistan has a conducive environment for the development of democracy due to what he calls a centuries-old progressive political process.

“Due to a collision of policies and interests with Islamabad, moderate Baloch political forces and society have been systemically persecuted and discriminated against. Despite high poverty, low literacy and appalling socio-economic conditions, religious fundamentalism has failed to take roots in Baloch society,” says the former legislator.

Some members of the Baloch diaspora believe that the United States should do more to address the Balochistan conflict. They also fear that more cooperation between Pakistan and the United States would undermine Baloch interests.

Miran Gichki, a young Baloch scholar who graduated from the University of Arkansas and now lives in California, says a Republican president is more likely to work closely with Pakistan.

“My concern is about Pakistan getting more military assistance from the United States which will be used against Baloch dissidents,” he says.

“I am also worried that more Baloch would be targeted if United States transfers drone technology to Pakistan.”

Regardless of who comes to power in Washington, it would not be easy for the next US president to ignore Balochistan while dealing with Pakistan. Balochistan remains critical in the debate pertaining to Taliban sanctuaries, growing religious radicalisation and issues of democracy and human rights. However, the challenge here is that one American approach to address the unrest in Balochistan is not going to be simultaneously acceptable to both Islamabad and Baloch nationalists. Nonetheless, the Baloch see brighter prospects for them from the United States irrespective of the outcome of the presidential elections. (Courtesy: Dawn)

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 11, 2012

From Newsweek Pakistan

QUETTA: A Pakistani politician escaped an assassination attempt on Friday when a bomb planted in his shoe exploded as he put them on outside a mosque after prayers, officials said.

The blast in Dera Bugti, about 500 kilometers east of Quetta, capital of the restive Balochistan province, wounded 12 people, but their injuries were not life-threatening, police and local officials said.

Ahmedan Bugti, a lawmaker with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid party, which is part of the ruling national coalition, left his shoes outside the mosque while he was offering Friday prayers, provincial home secretary Akbar Durrani told AFP. Someone planted an explosive device in one of them, which detonated as he put the shoe back on.

“Bugti’s leg was badly wounded, a helicopter has been arranged to fly him to Quetta,” Durrani added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Balochistan is plagued by Islamist militancy, sectarian violence, and a separatist insurgency. Separatists demanding more autonomy and a greater share of Balochistan’s oil and gas revenues rose up in 2004, while violence has surged in the province this year and human rights activists have raised concerns about an increase in targeted killings.

The Baloch Hal Reporter Adds:  The Baloch Republican Army, a pro-independent Balochistan underground armed group, has accepted responsibility for the attack. Mr. Bugti is an opponent of former Baloch governor and chief minister Nawab Akbar Bugti. He remained appreciative of former Pakistani military dictator General Musharraf’s policies which irked the Baloch nationalist groups, including the Baloch Republican Army.

Published in The Baloch Hal  on November on 9, 2012 

From Express Tribune

QUETTA: Three people were killed when unidentified men opened fire on a hotel in the Mand Balo area of Turbat district in Balochistan, Express News reported on Sunday.
According to Levies’ sources, the three men were sitting at a hotel when unidentified men riding motorcycles opened fire on the hotel.
All three men received fatal wounds and died on the spot.
The men, who were reportedly from Punjab, wanted to enter Greece via Iran illegally.
This is the same area where gunmen killed a group of would-be migrants near the Iranian border in July, killing at least 18 people and injuring another two in what appeared to be an ethnically-motivated attack.

THE BALOCH HAL REPORTER ADDS: The Baloch Liberation Front (B.L.F.) accepted responsibility for the attack saying that it had already warned settlers to leave Balochistan. “If they do not listen to our warnings they will face a face a violent fate,” said Ghuram Baloch, a spokesman for the Baloch Liberation Front in a press release issued by B.L.F. Media.

The spokesman said the Punjabi settlers worked for the government as ‘informers’ in Balochistan for the Pakistani security forces and they would be targeted if they continued to pour into Balochistan.

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 4, 2014

By Faisal Farooq

Malik Siraj Akbar sees a very bleak future for Balochistan and its people unless the Establishment allows a political settlement of the conflict.  Akbar, who is currently residing in the United States, is an ambitious Pakistani journalist and has been actively highlighting the Balochistan issue across the globe. He is a Contributing Writer at the Huffington Post and a former Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington D.C.

He is the founder and the editor of The Baloch Hal, Balochistan’s first online English language newspaper. His newspaper was banned in Pakistan because of its fiercely objective and critical editorial policy. He also wrote a book The Redefined Dimensions of Baloch Nationalist Movement which was released in the US in 2011. He spoke exclusively to Newspakistan.pk about the current situation in Balochistan and his words offer a critical look into a crisis in great need of broader coverage. Here is the first part of his detailed interview.

First of all what are your views about current situation in Balochistan?

Balochistan is currently going through a serious political and administrative crisis which is worsening with every passing day. The affairs of the province are covertly but strictly run by the Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies.

The political government is powerless in terms of making major decisions but, at the same time, it is deeply inept and corrupt as well.

Genuine political leaders, activists and independent journalists have gone in hiding or fled the province because they fear being kidnapped and killed by state-sponsored intelligence agencies and death squads.

On the top of this abysmal situation, sectarian killing of Shia/ Hazaras have significantly increased while the state seems to be intentionally promoting radical Islamist elements in Baloch areas to counter the Baloch nationalism.

Can political dialogue resolve the issue of insurgency in the province?

There have been a number of attempts in the past one decade to address the conflict in Balochistan through dialogue. The most broad-based endeavor was made in 2004 under the leadership of caretaker prime minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain.

Two parliamentary committees were constituted which also enjoyed the trust and acceptance of the Baloch nationalists. But those committees failed because of a number of reasons.

For example, Nawab Bugti’s killing in 2006 derailed the negotiation process while, most importantly, hawks in the Pakistan military establishment and federal bureaucracy refused to implement the recommendations of the committees (this was repeatedly confirmed by Senator Mushahid Hussaib Syed—who headed one of the committees).

Political dialogue can resolve all kinds of disputes but at this point there are no signs that the army is willing to see pro-independent Balochistan leaders like Hairbayar Marri and Brdamdagh Bugti on the negotiation table. Likewise, the Balochs do not trust the Pakistani authorities.

They do not want to negotiate with the political government or the military establishment without any international guarantors because they say they have been betrayed time and again the past despite official promises.

Do you think the Establishment has really made its mind to stop taking recourse to military means in ending the conflict in Balochistan?

The Establishment has been trying to quell the insurgency for the past eight years but it has failed because the insurgency has spread in breadth and width of Balochistan.

Secondly, insurgency can be quelled only by allowing a political settlement of the conflict and the Establishment does not seem to be encouraging that either.

How do you see Akhtar Mengal’s six-point agenda which he presented in the Supreme Court?

Mengal’s Six Points did not have anything which had already not been demanded by all political stakeholder and international human rights organizations in order to normalize the situation in the province.

The government and intelligence agencies rejected all of Mengal’s points within 24 hours after they were presented. Thus, those Six Points are no longer significant. They are just a part of the history.

Do you see any political future for Mengal after his recent six-point agenda?

Mengal is the last of the Baloch nationalists acceptable to the Pakistani Establishment. He will be allowed to contest elections.

He will be accommodated in the future Balochistan government but that will ultimately make him as unpopular among the Baloch as Nawab Akbar Bugti was in 1970s and Nawab Raisani is today.

Do you believe Akhtar Mengal will be able to fill his political vacuum in the province when separatists have become radical about his (Akhtar Mengal’s) demands?

Akhtar Mengal already made a political blunder by appearing before the Pakistani Supreme Court. His decision was very unpopular with the radical Balochs.

If he becomes the next Chief Minister of Balochistan, he will directly be pitted against the hardliner Balochs and required to take action against them.

This will create a very challenging situation for him because he will be required to deliver to the Establishment’s expectations.

In case the government approves six-point agenda of Mengal, will it be able to woo the separatists?

Mengal’s Six Points even do not reflect his party’s stance on Balochistan. These Points are basically a set of recommendations about addressing the issue of law and order in Balochistan and building confidence of the enraged nationalists.

To end the insurgency and resolve Balochistan conflict, the Establishment will probably have to concede to tougher demands. And I am sure BNP does have another longer list of those demands.

What will be the role of Pastuns in the province against the separation movement?

The Pashtuns are not a part of the current conflict nor are they a part of any separatist movement. They have never faced military operations.

Since the Pashtuns and Baloch live on their respective historical lands, the Pashtuns neither support nor oppose the Baloch movement.

On the other hand, the Balochs say they will support the Pashtuns if they want to create their own province, join Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or join Afghanistan.

Is Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) as popular in the province as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Waziristan?

No. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is absolutely unpopular among the people in Balochistan because the society has always been secular and home to even a large number of non-Muslims.

The Baloch society is not known for attacking people on the basis of their religion. It mainly operates in Quetta not elsewhere in the province. There is a general impression that the LeJ is sponsored by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Do you see any likelihood of international forces intervention in Balochistan in the future?

I do not see any signs of international military intervention in Balochistan in near future. The maximum support we will see will come in forms of statements and parliamentary resolutions from international governments and organizations which will urge Pakistan to resolve the conflict through political means and end human rights abuses.

We do not know a single country that currently officially supports the idea of an independent Balochistan.

Do you see the possibilities of Baloch political parties contesting the next general elections?

The National Party, which boycotted the previous elections, will contest the next elections. The Balochistan National Party also seems to be interested in participating in the elections although it has not officially publicized its plans.

Can any leader bridge the gap between the warring parties?

Nawab Khair Baksh Marri is the ideological father of the current nationalist movement. Only he has the power to influence the insurgents to give up arms.

What are the interests of China, India and the US in Balochistan?

Besides China, which constructed a port in Gwadar, we have not seen signs of Indian and American presence or interest in Balochistan.

The Balochs are staunchly opposed to the Chinese presence in their province where armed groups have carried out a number of attacks on the Chinese engineers working on various projects in Balochistan.

In addition, there is Saudi and Iranian interest in Balochistan where they want to fight their Sunni versus Shia proxy battle.

Does the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on Balochistan’s government have any political significance?

What the Supreme Court said in its judgement about the Balochistan government —it has failed to play its constitutional obligation—was already known to the people and the media.

So, that was not a significant pronouncement nor was it a big deal to reaffirm that the security forces were responsible for committing human rights abuses in the province.

What counts at the end of the day is what the SC can do to end all these practices and bring back the missing persons and end the political role of intelligence agencies.

Will SC’s intervention in the province really help resolve the issue?

The Supreme Court intervention is unlikely to yield any positive results given the fact that the intelligence agencies and the representatives of the security forces were either unwilling to cooperate with the court in the first place or unwilling to accept the charges leveled against them.

This is mainly because of the culture of impunity that has developed over so many years in Pakistan where our security forces blatantly carry out rights abuses and easily get away with it.

In the case of the Supreme Court ruling, we also see that the security forces and the intelligence agencies have very smartly skipped their share of the blame and all criticism seems to be directed at Chief Minister Raisani and his government.

Until the personnel from security forces, who are blamed for carrying out rights violations, are brought to justice, the Supreme Court intervention will not make much sense to Balochistan.

Why did the government ban local media in the province?

The government is unhappy with the media on two accounts. It does not want the media to cover the activities and operations of the Baloch insurgent groups as they regularly make telephone calls to the media organizations to accept responsibility for attacks they carry out against the government.

The government believes the coverage of these groups amounts to glorifying violence and demoralizing the security forces whereas the media insists that people have a right to know what is happening in their surroundings, who is doing and what has caused such break-down of law and order.

Secondly, the Balochistan High Court has also warned to imprison newspaper editors for at least six months if they publish the statements of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

Once again, the government justifies the ban saying that it amounts to depicting the Lashkar as a heroic force.

Our argument, as the media, is that if the government fails to protect the people’s lives then our readers and viewers at least have a right to know who is behind these killings and what they want to achieve by carrying out such attacks.

I do not think there is any element of glorifying violence in the media coverage of the armed groups. After all, they are a reality of the society and we have to cover them as a part of our job.

Is there any division between Brohi and Bloch tribes?

No. There are no apparent divisions between the Baloch and Brohi tribes. The separatist movement comprises of people from tribes that speak both the languages.

What is the role of local media organizations in the current situation of the province?

The local media works under extraordinary circumstance. It multitasks in a situation when the mainstream Pakistani media does not sufficiently cover Balochistan. So, there is a lot of dependence on the local media to highlight people’s issues.

In the recent years, journalists have come under remarkable pressure and physical threats. At least 22 local journalists have been killed in Balochistan since in 2009 and these figures are increasing day by day. So, the media directly faces the heat of the conflict.

Lastly, what is the future of the province?

If the federal government and the military establishment continue to run Balochistan on ad hocism and through a policy of divide and rule, I see a very bleak future for the province and its people.

Such policies can convert Balochistan into a deadly battle field where a civil war can erupt which will entail pro-establishment Baloch tribes versus anti-establishment Baloch tribes, Balochs versus Punjabis, Balochs versus Pashtuns, Shias versus Sunnis, moderate Muslims versus Talibanized Muslims.

In addition, lack of human development and economic opportunities is making Balochistan a very frustrated society.

The educated Balochs are far more anti-Pakistan than their elders. They see no hope in the country. The challenge ahead is how Islamabad chooses to address this myriad challenge. (Courtesy: News Pakistan)

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 3, 2012

From The News International 

ISLAMABAD: According to a Gilani Research Foundation Survey carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the majority (65%) in Pakistan is fearful and apprehensive about insurgency in Balochistan, says a press release.

A nationally-representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked, “These days in Balochistan there are talks going on about separatist movements and insurgency. In your opinion, is the threat of separation and insurgency from Balochistan very serious or not serious?” Responding to this, 65% of Pakistanis are of the opinion that the threat is “very serious” and 16% think it is “not serious”. However, 19% did not give a response.

The study was released by Gilani Foundation and carried out by Gallup Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 2,674 men in rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country, during October 07- 13, 2012. Error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 percent at 95% confidence level.

According to another survey by the same institution, Pakistani views on who is to blame for insurgency in Balochistan are sharply divided: federal government (27%), Baloch leaders (29%) and foreign powers (27%) all share it almost equally.

A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked “In your opinion, who is more responsible for the unrest in Balochistan and negative sentiments about central government?” Responding to this, 29% said “Baloch leaders”, 27% said “federal government” and 27% said “foreign powers.” However, 17% did not give a response.

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 3, 2012

From The Nation

LAHORE: Former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said that judiciary had no authority to dismantle the elected govt of Balochistan.

“If the mandate of people who voted the present Balochistan government into power is not respected, the separatist movement there would get impetus”, he said while talking to journalists after inaugurating the completion of renovation work of the Lahore Press Club, adding, “we should respect mandate of the people instead of criticising each other.” Gilani maintained that all institutions should work within their domains to maintain the trichotomy of power as defined in the Constitution.

He said the Balochistan issue was very sensitive and hence should be tackled carefully.

On South Punjab province, he said some ‘hidden forces’ did not want creation of a separate province comprising the southern region. When asked to name those ‘hidden forces’ , the former Prime Minister gave a smile but declined to divulge their identity, stating, “since they are hidden so let them remain so”.

He said he had been punished for raising voice for the rights of the people of South Punjab.

Gilani said it was the duty of the government to fulfil aspirations of the people belonging to this part of the province.

He assured that PPP-led government would fulfil its commitment of forming South Punjab province within the limits of the Constitution.

To another question, Gilani said the President had immunity under the Constitution and he had protected the Constitution by not writing the letter. To a query, he said it was a responsibility of political leadership and law-enforcement agencies to control problems in Karachi.

He paid tributes to the journalists for always raising voice against dictators, adding, that journalists had played a vital role for strengthening democracy. He said the PPP had restored the 1973 Constitution in its real form and it was their great achievement. Gilani said the PPP had always followed the Constitution and wanted others to do so.

Gilani said he himself appeared before the Supreme Court three times and dispelled a false image that the PPP did not follow the Constitution.

He was accompanied by Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi. Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, Vice- President Shahbaz Mian, General Secretary Zulfiqar Mehto, and Treasurer Afzaal Talib were also present on the occasion.
Later, LPC President Arshad Ansari announced the honourary membership of the Club to Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Republished in The Baloch Hal on November 3, 2012