Ministers appeal for 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' to address Balochistan's issues

• Do not push us to a point of no-return, warns Akhtar Mengal. 
• Balochistan’s issues must be resolved, says Khawaja Asif.
• We should hear bitter truth about Balochistan's problems , says Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Federal ministers Khawaja Asif and Sherry Rehman on Tuesday suggested the formation of a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" for the resolution of Balochistan’s issues after their ally Akhtar Mengal raised the issue of missing persons in the National Assembly.

“Balochistan’s issues must be resolved,” said Asif in the lower house after Mengal briefed the house on the problems facing the province.

The defence minister said that the “elites” of the country have made mistakes and admitted that some of the sins and crimes were committed by the rulers. He also lamented that politicians have spoken on the issue verbally just to get votes.

The minister shared that a battle for power has been ongoing in Pakistan and targeted his party’s arch-rival Imran Khan.

“[Last] government was removed via constitutional and legal way. The person whose government was removed is blackmailing the state,” said Asif. He urged that the battle for power can be fought later.

Asif also deplored that after one and a half years after independence, different opinions were not tolerated.

Khawaja Asif said the points raised by Akhtar Mengal regarding the Balochistan situation are genuine and there is a dire need to heal the wounds of the people of the province. 

He said the problems of Balochistan can be addressed by sitting together with the leaders and people of Balochistan.

On the other hand, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that a war is being fought in the name of religion but it was only a “war of power” — a reference to Imran Khan’s call terming his Azadi March as “jihad” against the government.

The PPP MNA said that they do not want terrorism to increase in the country as it is “ours” and have to save it.

“We should be taken into confidence about the operation that is going on,” said Rehman. She added that Pakistan has been able to wipe out al-Qaeda from its soil through successful operations but now the TTP was taking over.

“The problems of Balochistan should be heard to start reconciliation. We should also hear the bitter truth about the problems of Balochistan,” said Rehman. She also urged the courts to hear human rights cases.

As regards Balochistan, she proposed the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take the situation towards improvement in the province.

Mohsin Dawar also supported the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, saying it is imperative to take the country in the right direction.

Do not push us to a point of no return: Mengal

Earlier, BNP-M leader Akhtar Mengal, in his address, lamented Balochistan’s situation, saying the people of the province should not be pushed to a point of no return.

The BNP-M leader deplored that democratic and undemocratic governments had ruled the country, different parties had come to power, and changes were made to the Constitution but Balochistan never changed.

“Why are Balochistan’s issues not resolving?” asked Mengal. He added that his words are taken seriously but there was nothing in the hands of the government.

The coalition government’s partner told the house that the people killed by the Counter Terrorism Department have been identified and all of those people were “picked up”.

“Wasim Tabish was a student who wrote a poem for the missing persons. In this country poetry is also a sin. Those who speak and write are picked up,” said Mengal.

The BNP-M leader said that they had shared a list of missing persons with the PTI government, and one of the person who was on the list was found to be killed in the encounter.

“Do not push us to a point of no-return,” warned Mengal, as he urged the end of fake encounters in Balochistan.