April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

QUETTA, April 3: Balochistan’s Chief Minister-designate Nawab Aslam Raisani said on Thursday that his government would initiate a process of dialogue with all Baloch parties, including the banned militant groups, to resolve issues concerning the province.

He said that political prisoners would be released and missing persons would be traced.

He was talking to newsmen at the Quetta Press Club where he had gone to urge BSO chairman Mohiuddin Baloch to call off his hunger strike unto death.

He said the federal government would be asked to stop the military operation in the province.

“Negotiations with all political forces, including the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Revolutionary Army, would be on top of the coalition government’s agenda to give a sense of participation to all political groups,” he said.

Mr Raisani said the PPP believed in national reconciliation and his visit to the hunger strike camp and talks with BNP leaders Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Sardar Akhtar Mengal in Karachi were part of that policy.

He said that the political issues would be tackled politically because the use of force had weakened democratic institutions.

Mr Raisani said he had been assured by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari that the federal government would fully cooperate with the PPP-led coalition government in Balochistan in releasing political activists and ending the military operation.

He said his government would not only rehabilitate the displaced tribesman of Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts, but would also pay them compensation.

After Mr Raisani’s visit to the press club, BSO chief Mohiuddin said: “I have ended the hunger strike on the request of the chief of Sarawan as it is Baloch tradition to respect tribal chieftains.”

He said the chief minister-designate told that all Baloch prisoners, including Sardar Akhtar Mengal, would be released after the formation of government in the province.