QUETTA: Former federal minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has alleged that massive loot and plunder of public funds had been committed in Balochistan during the tenure of previous provincial government and asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate an inquiry into the matter.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, he accused NAB officials of being reluctant to take action against the then chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and members of his cabinet who he said were involved in corruption.

He alleged that NAB officials were themselves involved in corruption and they blackmailed people by summoning them to their office.

Sardar Rind said that NAB should conduct an investigation into the payment of Rs830 million to the family of Nawab Raisani in the name of compensation (for the loss of properties caused by a tribal feud).

He alleged that the Raisani-led government had committed massive corruption in the Reko Diq gold-cum-copper project deal and said that the incumbent government had lost a case pertaining to the deal in the International Court of Justice, which had forced it to opt for an out of court settlement.

He asked Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch “not to protect” Aslam Raisani and his ministers in the Reko Diq case and warned of consequence if he tried to do so.

He said that under an agreement reached between the Balochistan government and the Australian company, the latter had the right to have a mining licence to explore gold and copper in Reko Diq area of Chagai district.

In reply to a question, Sardar Rind said that the CM should resign before December to honour the Murree agreement. A decision on the Reko Diq case should be left to the coming government, he added.

He welcomed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, saying it would benefit people of Balochistan if they were given their due share in jobs and other economic opportunities.

Answering a question, Sardar Rind said that he had decided to join a political party having the status of a national party. Though he did not disclose its name, people close to him said he would join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Islamabad in a couple of days.

The ex-minister said he had respect for Balochistan-based regional parties but history showed that whenever they were elected to the provincial assembly, they extended support to the party which formed government in Islamabad. “In this situation it is not possible for the regional parties to raise voice for the rights of Balochistan”.

Sardar Rind predicted that Pakistan People’s Party would suffer defeat even in Sindh if fair and free elections were held in 2018.

Published in Dawn, October 14th , 2015

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