Baloch nationalist leaders reject Pak govt's reform package

Rejecting Pakistan government's constitutional and political reform package to tackle insurgency in Balochistan, nationalist leaders and groups in the province called it "a cruel joke" and demanded "sovereign autonomy" for the resources-rich southwestern region.

The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Baloch National Front (BNF), National Party, Jamhoori Watan Party-Talal (JWP-T), Anjuman Ittehad Marri and Baloch Students' Organisation (Azad faction) are among the groups which rejected the package of sweeping constitutional and political reforms tabled by the government in Parliament yesterday.

The government also announced end of military operations in the province and said it was willing to hold talks with all nationalist leaders, including those living outside Pakistan.

Balochistan has been rocked by a raging insurgency that has claimed hundreds of live over the past five years. The Baloch nationalist leaders said the main objective of the people's struggle was the recognition of their right of ownership of the resources and coast of Balochistan.

BNP-M secretary general Habib Jalib Baloch described the reforms package as a mockery and said the Baloch do not want mega projects. While work on such projects will continue, the province will get "peanuts" as its share of revenues, he said.

The BNP-M wants "sovereign autonomy" for Balochistan so that the people control the resources, he said. BNF leader Sadiq Raisani said his group wanted the restoration of Balochistan's status as it was in August 1947 and the undoing of "forcible annexation".