QUETTA, Aug 19: A leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Q said here on Sunday that some international forces were indirectly inferring in the affairs of Balochistan because of its geopolitical importance and its gold and copper reserves and their involvement in deterioration of law and order could not be ignored.

Addressing a press conference, Salma Saeed asked external elements to stop meddling in Balochistan in the interest of peace in the region. She said the issue should be resolved through dialogue among all stakeholders. She urged the government to consult Pakistan Army about holding talks with nationalists to normalise the situation in Balochistan.

The PML-Q leader pointed out that majority of people loved Pakistan. “After several years thousands of youths came out of their homes and thronged the roads and streets of Quetta to express their happiness during the Independence Day celebrations this year,” she said.

She, however, regretted that most of the provincial ministers did not bother to hoist Pakistan’s flag on their official cars on the occasion. It would have been better if they had visited their constituencies with the national flags hoisted on their cars, she said.

The PML-Q leader said all nationalities of Balochistan, including the Baloch, Pakhtuns, Hazaras, Sindhis and Seraikis, were loyal to the country like the people of other provinces.

However, some hidden hands were hatching conspiracies to spread sectarian hatred in the province, she said.

She urged the federal cabinet’s committee on Balochistan to consult the leaders of all communities in the province instead of only holding meetings with government officials.