ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that the government has taken into account the factors resulting in discontentment of people of Balochistan and continuing unrest in the country's largest province.

A high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister was held to discuss the issue of missing persons and law and order situation in Balochistan.

The meeting at the prime minister house was attended by Balochistan's governor Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi and Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, the federal ministers, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani and Director General Inter Service Intelligence (DG-ISI) Lt General Muhammad Zaheerul Islam.

Director General Intelligence Bureau (DG-IB) Aftab Sultan and Inspector General (IG) Balochistan Karar Hussain also attended the meeting.

Briefing media representatives about the meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that in first phase dialogue will be held with political parties believing in the federation. In second phase it will be held with those nationalist groups which are working under the federation and in third with other groups.

The information minister said the army chief particularly insisted on political solution of the Balochistan issue. The COAS further said as it is a political issue therefore military option will not be a lasting solution, Kaira added.

He said the meeting expressed resolve to thoroughly review the issue of missing persons and take concrete steps for its solution.

He said all clauses of law regarding arrests, detentions and trial will be implemented and stern action will be taken against those committing human rights violations.

“It is sincere intention of the government to create an enabling environment for dialogue with leadership of Balochistan,” the prime minister said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

Gilani said Balochistan had been on low priority of previous governments and its genuine share in the progress had long been denied. “We want change in Balochistan a change for stability and prosperity,” he observed.

Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was introduced in November 2009 envisaging 61 reforms proposals in constitutional administrative political and economic spheres.

Consequent upon 18th constitution amendment a major part of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan already stands implemented, he added.

The prime minister said many cases of political workers not involved in heinous crimes were withdrawn by the government and consequently a number of missing persons reunited with their families.

He said Army was withdrawn and replaced by Frontier Constabulary. Directions were issued to IG FC Balochistan to seek guidance from Chief Minister on issues of internal security of the province.

He said Balochistan demand for increase in its share in National Finance Commission (NFC) Award was also fulfilled.

Its share in divisible pool raised from 5.1% to 9.9%. Rs 1 billion allocated for rehabilitation of IDPs from Dera Bugti.

Additionally Rs 120 million also paid to IDPs of Maula Bund Area.

The ban on recruitment of Balochistan domiciled candidates against Federal Government posts was lifted, he stated.

General Kayani said that Frontier Corps (FC) is not authorised to take any action on its own. FC is under the authority of the provincial government and it should not work beyond it domain of work.

The ISI chief General Zaheerul Islam said that his agency would fully cooperate in the recovery of the missing person.