Govt rolls out amnesty offer for Baloch dissidents

ISLAMABAD - With no progress despite heightened urgency, the government seems to have taken some desperate steps to break a crippling impasse on Balochistan — political, monetary and security-related.

By Afzal Khan

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Published: Sun 26 Feb 2012, 12:58 AM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 10:58 AM

“All cases will be withdrawn against Baloch leaders if they return to their homeland,” Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

The offer has been made to Baloch leaders in exile such as Brahamdagh Bugti and Hyrbyiar Marri, and comes at a time when the government’s effort to convene all political forces on the matter is floundering.

Malik’s offer came right after some hectic behind the scenes meetings that included Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in which both decided to invite disgruntled Baloch leaders in order to initiate fresh talks with them.

“We want a political solution of the Balochistan issue,” said Malik, adding that serious steps needed to be taken to save the country. “Both Brahamdagh Bugti and Hyrbyiar Marri should take part in the political and development process and I would personally receive them,” he added.

Officials of the interior ministery say that Pakistan has sought the help of Swiss authorities to convince Brahamdagh Bugti to return to Pakistan. Brahamdagh went underground when his grandfather Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in an operation conducted by the Pakistan military during the regime of Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf in 2006.

news@khaleejtimes.com


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