Kiyya Qadir Baloch
Islamabad- Pakistan People’s Party law maker Babar Awan visited Bugti refugees camp in Islamabad here on Sunday and extended support to the refugees and also demanded chief justice of Pakistan to play his role for restoring Bugti refugees in their areas.
Babar Awan on this occasion said country’s survival was impossible without rule of law and urged that the restoration of Bugti refugees is highly imperative for the peace in Balochistan.
He underscored the need for measures on emergency basis to remove the sense of deprivation found among the people of Balochistan. Saying the dictators ruined the country and they should be brought to book, Babar Awan noted ‘It is because of the inefficient policies that our own people were offended.
’The issue regarding the Bugti refugees is the most deplorable, he said.
Talking to media persons Babar Awan said that relationship between all the entities of the Federation and nationalities be based on equality and justice.
Awan further said before holding talks with China or India government should hold talks with his own Baloch people who are annoyed with the federation.
Awan noted that the Balochistan’s issue can’t be resolved through statements or tall claims. Awan demanded that the miseries of Baloch people in particular Bugti refugees should be addressed as justice was the key solution to any problem. He also said that government should invite Gohram and Shahzeen Bugti in All Parties conference which is going to be held in 12 July this year. He said that time had come government should address the miseries of Bugti refugees who are on strike in Islamabad from the last 66 days.
Babar Awan demanded rehabilitation of internally displaced persons of Dera Bugti and Kolu and proper compensation to the victims of those killed during the military raid in 2006.
Shahzeen Bugti was also present on the occasion and this was agreed during Awan’s visit between Shahzeen Bugti and PPP lawmaker at refugee camp here on Sunday that they would combine move a petition in Supreme Court for the restoration of Bugti refugees in their respected areas.
Shahzeen Bugti said that in this regard he had held talks with interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief Minister Balochistan including other high officials and requested them to play their role for settling Bugti refugees in their respected areas.
He said Interior Minister, including the Chief Minister Balochistan, home secretary Balochistan had promised to send them back to their respected areas within forty days but nothing had become of those promises instead of passing 22 days.
Shahzeen said that they were only demanding restoration of peace in their respective areas so that they could return to their homes. He said if the government felt that unrest in the region could continue for a longer time, it should devise some policy to deal with the situation. He said most of the people were living in miserable conditions under abject poverty and needed attention of the high-ups who so far paid only lip service and took no steps for their rehabilitation.
Kiyya Qadir Baloch is a freelance journalist associated with Daily Times Lahore currently based in Islamabad. He can be reached at kiyya.baloch@gmail.com