QUETTA, Jan 10: A new social contract is needed to pull the country out of crises and the rulers should abandon ‘expansionist policies’ and stop meddling in other people’s affairs so that political and democratic institutions may be strengthened, according to leaders of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

Addressing a public meeting held on Friday to commemorate the 21st death anniversary of a party leader, Abdur Razzak Dotani, various speakers said the main problems people were faced with were unemployment, lawlessness, sectarianism and insecurity, adding that denial of rights to the provinces was also a major issue.

The meeting was presided over by Akram Shah, the party’s secretary-general. Senator Reza Mohammad Reza, Abdur Rauf, Usman Kakar and Nasrullah Zeray also addressed the rally.

Condemning what they termed the government’s lukewarm attitude towards annulment of the 17th Amendment, restoration of the pre-Nov 3 judiciary, and grant of provincial autonomy to the federating units, the speakers said the ruling coalition was pursuing the former military dictator’s policies.

They warned the government that domestic turmoil and bitter relations with neighbouring countries had put the national integrity at stake and maintained that the government should formulate policies according to people’s aspirations to create internal harmony and develop friendly relations with neighbours.

PkMAP leaders paid rich tribute to the late Dotani and said that he played an important role in the MRD movement against the Ziaul Haq regime, adding that the party would continue the struggle to accomplish his mission.

They claimed that the multi-party coalition government in Balochistan had failed to resolve problems faced by the people in the province.