Media-politician dialogue stresses unity among political parties

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: Political leaders hailing from different parties of Balochistan have emphasized the need of harmony and unity among the people of the province to promote the cause of oppressed nations.

These and identical views were expressed by Central Secretary Information of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Agha Hassan Baloch, former parliamentary leader of the Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party (PKMP), central vice president of National Party Dr. Ishaq Baloch and central secretary general of Hazara Democratic Party (HDP), Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Independent News of Pakistan (INP) Essa Tareen and the project director of Balochistan Institute for Development (BID) Malik Siraj Akbar during a  political dialogue between the media representatives and the political leaders. The three-day workshop is being held at Quetta Press Club with the colloberation of Natinoal Endowment for Democracy (NED) on “Democracy, Media and Human Rights” which is intended to introduce district correspondents of Balochistan with reporting on media and human rights issues.

Speakers in the seminar said that violation of human rights is still taking place in Balcohistan and the media played partial role over this humanitarian issue. “Around seven thousands people are remain missing from Balochistan but this crucial issue was not highlighted on media,” Agha Hassan said adding that journalists should play their due role.

Rahim Ziaratwal said during the past 60 years of misruled the country is now plunged in various crisis and people are suffering a lot. “There was only one group in the country who has been ruling since Pakistan was emerged in the map of world and they did not let any oppressed people to role,” said Ziaratwal adding that religious extremist had weakened the country’s stability.

He said there is severely need of united front among the Baloch and Pashtun to fights for their rights which so far not given by central state actors.

While addressing the participants Dr Ishaq, Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Essa Tarin and Malik Siraj Akbar said without unity and harmony a nation could not achieve its goal of successful nation. They said that Media is fourth pillar of country but state has restricted it using different tactics, thus the media is not playing its due role over the human rights issue in Balochistan where situation is worsened as compare to other provinces.

“Print media in Balochistan only rely on government advertisement for revenue in the wake of non availability of private sectors,” Dr. Ishaq said.