LAHORE:President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and three-time prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has once again been urged to step in and play his part as the country’s senior-most political leader to address the worsening crisis in Balochistan.
This time, the call came from a delegation of the National Party (NP), led by party president Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, amid the Balochistan National Party-Mengal’s (BNP-M) sit-in, which on Wednesday entered its 12th consecutive day.
According to senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, the former prime minister assured the NP delegation of his commitment to peace, stability, development, and democratic norms in Balochistan.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, confirmed that Nawaz Sharif is expected to visit Balochistan after his return from London, where he is due to travel within two days for a medical check-up.
The NP delegation, which had earlier met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Balochistan’s worsening state, briefed Nawaz Sharif on the rapidly deteriorating situation.
They requested him to intervene directly or indirectly through the central government, particularly concerning the BNP-M’s sit-in and the arrest of women activists.
Briefing the media after the meeting at Jati Umra, former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the NP delegation had highlighted pressing issues in Balochistan, including law and order, underdevelopment and political marginalisation.
He said that the NP has urged the PML-N supremo to play his role as the senior-most leader of the country for Balochistan.
He said that Nawaz has assured Dr Malik Baloch and his party leaders that he would play his role for peace and stability in Balochistan. He added that Dr Malik also highlighted the progress Balochistan had been making during the PML-N’s rule.
He noted that during their stint, they had started a meaningful peace process that was nearing a fruitful conclusion. However, democracy was derailed, and the development and peace brought during their era were devoured by political instability.
He said Nawaz Sharif has assured them that he will engage with political players to address the challenges of the province.Rafique said Nawaz Sharif reiterated his commitment to re-engage political players in order to address Balochistan’s challenges.
