Seminar remembers May 12 martyrs of Karachi

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: A seminar on Wednesday paid rich tributes to the martyrs of May 12, 2007  in Karachi and demanded of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government to constitute an independent probe into the murders and expose the elements responsible for the mass killing of civilians who backed the judicial movement.

The seminar was organized at Quetta Press Club by National Lawyers’ Forum, the lawyers’ wing of Awami National Party. Leaders form Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan People’s Party, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party, and National Party.

Addressing the seminar, Bismillah Khan Kakar, the provincial secretary general of the Pakistan People’s Party, regretted that his party had joined hands with the same political party to form coalition governments in Sindh and the Center which is held responsible for the mass killing of innocent political workers.

“Balochistan government even today comprises of the same people who once supported the repressive policies of General Pervez Musharraf. They are not serving the cause of democracy but are still strengthening the dictators,” he charged.

Khuda-e-Noor Khan, the provincial organizer of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), said the murder of innocent people took place during a military regime but even the democratic government did not look into the matter by investigating the matter to find out who carried out the dark episode of May 12.

“Two years have passed but no progress has been made so far. It is the government’s responsibility to investigate the killings of May 12. The present government is responsible for the load-shedding, inflation, lawlessness and corruption while the government is not answerable to anyone. From top to bottom, everyone is involved in corruption but the government is doing nothing,” he charged.

He added that Balochistan Package had not been implemented yet as no one had been given a job as promised by the government.

Senior Vice President of National Party (NP)  Dr. Ishaq Baloch called for the need to recognize the provinces on lingual, historic and cultural basis. He said some forces were trying to create Baloch-Pashtun differences in Quetta city but it was the responsibility of the nationalist parties to thwart such plans because all the current nationalist parties are the brainchild of National Awami Party (NAP) which ensured the Baloch-Pashtun unity over the years.

“It is too late to rename Khabir Pashtunkhawa after sixty-two years or to give a package to Balochistan. Islamabad is not doing us a favor right now but it is giving our rights which were snatched from us several years back,” he added.

Balochistan National Party (BNP) Habib Jalib Baloch said the new NFC formula was not favorable to Balochistan as it had given the resources of Balochistan to the divisible pool. Only 5% share would be given to Balochistan on the basis of its backwardness.