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| PM asks rebels to join mainstream politics |
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday extended an invitation to the angry political leadership of Balochistan, from within and from abroad, to join the national mainstream and initiate a dialogue.
“On behalf of this august house as well as with the backing of political leadership of the country, I extend the hand of reconciliation and invite our estranged brothers to a dialogue in all sincerity with a hope that they will respond positively,” he said while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament prior to presentation of Balochistan package “Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan”.
Describing the package ‘Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan’ as a ‘dreams of Baloch people come true’ he said that the package will give people their political and economic rights in Balochistan and will once again prove the supremacy of parliament “Today’s an historic day because a package for the rights of the people of Balochistan is being presented,” the premier said.
The prime minister emphasized, “We should sink our political differences to strengthen institutions and the democratic system as Pakistan’s future is deeply linked with democracy.
The prime minister in his speech expressed the confidence that the package would lead to a new era of socio-economic development of the province in an atmosphere free of exploitation, terrorism and ignorance. “We have feelings that in order to correct the past mistakes, there is need to take corrective measures for removing the sense of deprivation in Balochistan through adopting a policy of national reconciliation as the federation will not be strong unless the provinces are made stronger,” he added.
He said that the Government is committed to making available necessary resources to make Balochistan truly reflective of its real culture and traditions.
The prime minister said the joint session would be re-convened after Eidul Azha for detailed discussions on the package.
He pointed out that the Federal Government has already undertaken a number of economic initiatives to accelerate the pace of development in Balochistan. “These include owning of Rs17.5 billion overdraft of the province, increase in the PSDP of Balochistan from Rs42 billion last year to Rs50 billion this year, permission for utilization this year of Rs21 billion worth of un-utilized development funds and Rs9 billion of Balochistan package,” he added.
In his opening speech prior to presentation of Balochistan package, the prime minister also referred to his meetings with national leadership including Mian Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Asfanyar Wali Khan, Dr Farooq Sattar, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Baloch parliamentarians as well as members of the provincial assembly of Balochistan prior to drafting the final recommendations.
He also hoped the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms will complete its task and will come out with the package in the parliament soon to implement the Charter of democracy.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
