By Bari Baloch
Former Prime Minister and Chief of PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif paid a two day visit to Balochistan in the beginning of this month. This was his first visit to Balochistan after 10 years.
Earlier, his visit to Quetta was postponed three to four times after his return to country after ending of forced exile.
Balochistan was most peaceful province as compared to other provinces when Nawaz Sharif was the then Prime Minister. There was neither allegations of foreign interference of any country nor the incidents of forced disappearances of Baloch political workers and target killings were occurring in Balochistan. But just one year after dismissal of the then democratic government of Nawaz by Pervez Musharraf the peaceful Balochistan headed towards disaster.
“We want to see the old and good situation in Balochistan” said Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif while addressing a press conference at residence of Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar.
Remembering his ties with Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Sardar Attaullah Mengal Nawaz Sharif said Baloch nationalist leaders helped him in abolishment of 58- 2(b) the hanging sword on supremacy of parliament.
Sources of PML-N said the main objective of Mian Nawaz Sharif was to review party matters and meet the nationalist leadership of the province.
As far as political benefits for his party are concerned, he scored gains as Chief of Jhalawan and provincial minister for Services and General Administration Sardar Sanaullah Zehri not only joined his party along with former Governor of Balochistan Lt General Abdul Qadir Baloch but also merged his party, National Party Parliamentarians with PML-N.
Prior to formation of National Party Parliamentarians, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri was Central Vice President of National Party (NP). But when NP announced boycott of general elections of 2008, he differed with this decision and contested elections forming his own faction of party with the name of National Party Parliamentarian.
Sardar Sanaullah Zehri is not only an important figure in Balochistan’s politics but he is also head of Zehri tribe which is one of the strongest tribes of Balochistan.
Though the influence of Sardar Sanaullah Zehri is confined to his own tribe, however, he could prove a source of strength for PML(N) in Balochistan.
After the joining of Sardar Sanuallah Zehri, the strength of PML-N in Balochistan Assembly has reached to two.
However, as far as contacts of Nawaz with nationalist forces are concerned, these remained confined to leaders of moderate Baloch nationalists only.
A delegation of nationalist parties met with Mian Nawaz Sharif headed by Senior Vice President of NP Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo.
“Nawaz Sharif has assured us that he would make every effort to solve problem of missing persons and other problems of Balochistan”, said Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo after meeting with Nawaz Sharif.
Nawaz Sharif visited Bugti House and met the head of JWP Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti where he condoled the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the murder of Nawab Bugti and said that brining Pervez Musharraf and other perpetrators who were responsible for killing of Nawab Bugti to justice was must to heal the wounds of Balochs.
He was of the view that without taking practical steps the wounds of Balochs could not be healed up and stressed the need for recovery of all missing persons which is one of the core issues of Balochistan.
Mian Nawaz Sharif also visited the residence of Pashtoon nationalist leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and praised his party’s struggle for restoration of democracy during the dictatorial regime of Pervez Musharraf.
His cordial relations with strong Pashtoon nationalist force of province could pave a way for alliance with it in future.
As far as meeting with strong nationalists are concerned the desire of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif could not be materialized.
He wanted to meet Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri and Sardar Attuallah Mengal but this could not be possible as Nawab Khair Bakhsh was not ready for it while Sardar Attullah
Mengal was in his native town in Wadh.
PML-N Balochistan leadership had also contacted the leaders of BNP (Mengal) for meeting but they did not accept the invitation for meeting with Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
(The writer is a senior journalist based in Quetta: (E-mail: badini91@gmail.com)
http://thebalochhal.com/2010/01/nawaz-visit-to-strengthen-pml-n-in-balochistan/
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