Balochistan CM denies Zardari’s role in change of govt

KARACHI: Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has said that former president Asif Ali Zardari had no role in the recent change of the provincial government in Balochistan.“He (Zardari) just prayed but didn’t administer any medicine," said the Balochistan chief minister while talking to newsmen here on Friday after visiting the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam. The Balochistan chief minister said the change in the provincial government of Balochistan had been brought about by “like-minded friends”. “We do have good relations with Asif Ali Zardari and his good wishes are with us,” said Bizenjo.

Bizenjo said the Sindh chief minister extended an invitation of meeting with him when he and his cabinet members planned to visit Karachi. He said the Sindh province is like a second home for the people of Balochistan, while the other provinces are also equally respectable for them.

He said the issues related to the scholarship schemes for students of Balochistan, Hub Dam and other similar issues came under discussion in the dinner hosted for him and his cabinet members by the Sindh chief minister on Thursday. He said the members of the Balochistan Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and PML(Q) also attended the dinner. Bizenjo said he and his cabinet members would surely accept the invitation to meet former prime minister Nawaz Sharif if the former prime minister extended such an invitation. He said the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif didn’t pay attention to problems of Balochistan.

He said the situation has started improving in Balochistan as on Thursday some 200 Fararis had laid down their arms and announced to quit militancy. The Balochistan chief minister said in the coming days, more youth who had fallen prey to the negative propaganda, would join the national mainstream. He said the support of federal government is required so that more people in Balochistan could join the national mainstream. He said at present no slogan in Balochistan is being raised for independence as not a single Baloch would think to live after separating from Pakistan.

He said Balochistan has remained and would always remain a part of Pakistan. He said the youth in Balochistan have come to the conclusion that their sentiments have been exploited by the anti-state elements. He said the Balochistan government would provide full support in case the Sindh Police sought its help for getting former SSP Malir Rao Anwar arrested. The Balochistan chief minister said the former SSP Malir could not escape from the country through the Pakistan-Iran border.