'Environment not conducive to election': Mengal speaks about Balochistan | Business Recorder

9/30/12 6:14 AM

'Environment not conducive to election': Mengal speaks about Balochistan

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Chief of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) said on Saturday if his 6 points proved wrong, he was ready to face the gallows. Two days ago, Sardar Mengal submitted in Supreme Court his 6-points formula in a case filed by President Balochistan High Court Bar Association on law and order situation in Balochistan. Mengal addressed a reception, organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in continuation with a dialogue and reconciliation strategy to help resolve the issue of Balochistan. "It is for you to decide to save Balochistan or let it to go down the drain," Mengal asserted while pointing toward the audience. Former Chief Minister Mengal told the legal fraternity that Benazir Bhutto bluntly condemned operation in Balochistan while she addressed international media during Musharraf regime. He said environment is not conducive for general election in the province saying incumbent Balochistan assembly was not a representative of Baloch people. Mengal further said even today the perception of army was that they are the masters of the people's destiny. However, he added, their actual duty was to safeguard country's frontiers. While referring to the statement of Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Irfan Qadir in response to his 6 points to save the province, Mengal said, the AGP is more a Lieutenant General than a Principal legal officer of the government. President SCBA Yasin Azad said the only way to resolve the Balochistan issue was through political will. He emphasised the political parties to move towards for addressing the burning issue of Balochistan. "There must be a government writ and local police should be given authorisation to maintain law and order situation in Balochistan instead of spy agencies," Azad maintained. He said the right of vote should not be given to those in Balochistan who were working at Gawadar port but they originally belong to other provinces. He suggested that Balochistan issue should be tabled in the Parliament as a one-point agenda for an amicable resolution.

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1243327/

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'Environment not conducive to election': Mengal speaks about Balochistan | Business Recorder

9/30/12 6:14 AM

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1243327/

Page 2 of 2