Grand Jirga to bring Baloch dissidents into mainstream

ISLAMABAD: The Nawaz-led government is all set to constitute an all-inclusive grand jirga that would discuss a political deal including huge development package with disgruntled Baloch leaders to bring them into the mainstream national politics, the sources told ‘The News’ here on Wednesday.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the formation of the grand jirga on the recommendations of the Balochistan government and senior leader of ruling party Zafar Iqbal Jhagra who recently held secret talks in London with two disgruntled Baloch leaders,” the sources said.

The sources said the grand jirga would comprise representatives of the political parties that would have the mandate to discuss the development package worth billions of rupees with the Baloch leaders.

They said the head of the grand jirga is likely to be taken from any of the opposition party to show the will of both the government and the opposition to resolve the issue of Balochistan.

A senior government official confided to this correspondent that if the talks with the Baloch leaders who are currently in exile would yield fruitful results then the government may announce development package worth Rs 300 billion for the Balochistan province.

He said the disgruntled Baloch leaders have agreed to come to the negotiating table so the government is ready to discuss each and every issue that is directly or indirectly related to miseries and grievances of the Baloch people.

The self-exiled Baloch leader, Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Dawood and leaders of banned outfits Brahamdagh Bugti and Harbiyar Marri are believed to have agreed for talks if the grand jirga is given proper mandate and powers to negotiate a political deal.

The sources said the government has already completed its spadework on various important issues like allotment of land to non-Baloch people in Gwadar, review of conversion of A areas (under regular police) into B areas (under Baloch Levies) and rights of the local people over natural resources of the Balochistan province.

They said Gwadar would be made a free economic zone and all new mega projects would be carried out with the consent and approval of the provincial government of Balochistan.

The sources said the government also enjoys the support of the military establishment for talks with the self-exiled Baloch leaders and if the situation moves in the right direction it can also talk about withdrawal of the security forces from areas of current operations.

According to reports, the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006 had transformed the conflict into war-like situation and forced some local groups to see it as a final stop on the road to independence.

When contacted, Minister for Information and Broadcasting and spokesman of the federal government Pervaiz Rasheed told ‘The News’ that due to some engagements he could not give comments over the issue.—Published in The News