Balochistan cabinet calls on Zardari

KARACHI: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has said the change in the Balochistan government through democratic process is the manifestation of political maturity of the people of Balochistan and their elected representatives. He was talking to the Chief Minister of Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and his cabinet members in a reception hosted by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM House on Thursday.

Zardari said the Balochistan Assembly brought a change in the provincial government through a proper democratic process and did not allow the democratic system to be derailed. “I congratulate the Balochistan chief minister, his cabinet and also congratulate the people of Balochistan for supporting the democratic system,” he said. The former president said it has been the tradition of the PPP to support the rights of the people of smaller provinces. While referring to his tenure as President of Pakistan, he said that he launched Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan programme, gave the NFC Award with multiple criteria which provided substantial benefits to the people of Balochistan in terms of their share in the federal divisible pool. He went on to say that he gave identification to the Pakhtun brothers by renaming their province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and worked to create southern province for the people of the Seraiki belt of the Punjab. “I used to meet all of you, listened to your problems and tried to solve them,” he said. He said the province of Balochistan is rich in mineral resources. The people of Balochistan are sensible, politically aware and are keen to reap the fruits of democracy, asking the MPs to learn from them. “We have to work together for the prosperity of Balochistan and its people,” he said.

The chief minister of Balochistan, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, thanked Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for hosting a reception for him and his cabinet and for the opportunity to meet PPP President Asif Ali Zardari. He said that he was thankful to the former president, Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for welcoming the democratic change in the Balochistan government. “You are politically sagacious and a true democratic leader in the country who knows how to keep democracy on the track though whatever the situation there may be,” he said addressing Asif Ali Zardari. He appreciated the PPP leadership and the people of Sindh for their moral support and good wishes for the new Balochistan government.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while welcoming the Balochistan chief minister and his cabinet, said Karachi has the honour to be the second home of the people of Balochistan. “Most of your leaders, tribal heads, bureaucrats, agriculturists, educationists and others have homes in Sindh also,” he said and added “the people of Sindh have always stood with their Baloch brothers of Balochistan in thick and thin.” At this Asif Zardari said that Baloch leaders lived in Sindh and did politics in Balochistan. “They are like our family members,” he said.

Those who spoke from amongst the Balochistan cabinet included Sardar Mohammad Saleh Bhootani, Minister for Communication Mir Asim Kurd, Minister for Minerals Mir Akbar Askani, Minister Revenue Manzoor Kakar, Minister for Services Amir Rind, Minister for Local Government Ghulam Dastagir Badini, Minister for Health Majid Abro, Minister for Education Tahir Mahmood, Mohammad Khan Lahri, Izhar Hussain Khoso, Zamruk Khan, Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali and others.