QUETTA: A meeting attended by the representatives of almost all political parties on Friday observed that some forces wanted to create hatred and pit political forces and the people of Balochistan against each other on the issue of census.
The meeting, held in Sarawan House, was presided over by former senator Nawabzada Haji Lashkari Raisani. It was attended by the leaders of PPP Balochistan, BNP-Mengal, Hazara Democratic Party, BNP-Awami, Jamaat-i-Islami, Hazara Action Committee, Kakar Jamhoori Party and Shia Ulema Council.
The leaders vowed to foil all attempts to pit the people of Balochistan against each other. They decided that all political parties and tribal leaders would make joint efforts for holding the census after repatriation of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.
They expressed reservations over the holding of census in the presence of Afghan refugees and absence of Baloch people who had migrated to Sindh and Punjab because of unrest in the province. They said that without removing the reservations of the people of Balochistan, holding of census would be injustice with the communities living in Balochistan.
It was decided that another meeting of all parties would be held on Feb 5 to evolve a joint strategy on the issue.
Source: Dawn
