PM Shehbaz rejects violence, calls for Balochistan dialogue

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed a grand dialogue to address the longstanding issues facing Balochistan,

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed a grand dialogue to address the longstanding issues facing Balochistan, saying consultation and dialogue are the only viable ways to resolve challenges.

Addressing participants of the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, the prime minister welcomed the participants and highlighted the history of courage and hospitality associated with the Baloch people.

Shehbaz said the purpose of dialogue was to listen to the participants and the people of Balochistan. He recalled that various parts of Balochistan had announced their accession to Pakistan after the country came into existence.

The prime minister said Baloch elders and the people had opted to join Pakistan, adding that problems could only be resolved through consultation. He stressed that no patriot could take up arms under the pretext of grievances.

He acknowledged that the people of Balochistan had a rightful claim to the province’s abundant natural resources. He also said it was not wrong to describe Balochistan as one of the richest provinces in terms of resources.

Shehbaz said the challenges facing Balochistan should be addressed through dialogue. If there were problems and grievances, he added, they should be resolved through mutual discussion rather than violence.

The prime minister also referred to terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said lasting solutions required mutual consultation and a fair distribution of resources among the provinces.

He questioned who would benefit from turning a “bloody road” into a road of peace. He strongly condemned the killing of workers in Balochistan based on their identity, saying such acts could not be justified.

Shehbaz reiterated that dialogue and the fair distribution of resources were essential for resolving the province’s problems. He also noted that Gwadar International Airport had been gifted to Pakistan by China.

The prime minister alleged that hostile countries were behind terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the government wanted to address Balochistan’s issues through dialogue rather than allowing them to deepen.

He stressed that Pakistan could only progress when all four provinces moved forward together. He praised the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for making sacrifices to protect the people.

Shehbaz further alleged that Fitna al-Khawarij were receiving resources from hostile countries. Referring to the recent “Battle of Truth”, he said the entire nation had stood united during the crisis.