He said this while talking to newsmen after over an hour-long meeting with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif here at the Balochistan House. “My six point charter submitted to the Supreme Court should not be considered as different and less important than that of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman,” Mengal said while standing alongside Nawaz Sharif.
During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif pledged to continue a joint struggle for the recovery of missing Baloch persons and called for a joint strategy on the part of the political leadership to heel the wounds of the Baloch people.
Both the leaders were on the same page during the meeting on the point that those who had the real power in the country were responsible for Balochistan’s deteriorated situation and they were also responsible for the East Pakistan tragedy.
Senator Parvaiz Rashid accompanied Nawaz Sharif while Sanaullah Baloch, Sardar Rauf Mengal, MNA, Akhtar Lango and others flanked Akhtar Mengal.
The BNP leader said if the Baloch were considered as Pakistanis, they would have not been subjected to five military operations, murders and tortures. “It is better to part our ways peacefully after having a warm hug instead of shedding blood of Baloch people if we cannot go along together,” he said.
Defending his six-point charter of demand, Mengal said that there was nothing against Pakistan or the Constitution in these points. “The situation in Balochistan has reached a point of no return and the Baloch people will not be ready to hold talks until these six points are implemented,” Mengal said.
The Baloch leader said it was necessary that the powers, which had been ruling the country for 65 years, should consider the masses as the real rulers to improve the situation in Balochistan. “Only lip service and consolation will not serve the purpose as practical steps are needed to be taken to resolve the issue,” he said.
Mengal also thanked the Supreme Court of Pakistan for taking up the cases of the missing persons and hearing the problems of the Baloch people.
Answering a question about reconciliation, he said, “You will have to take the Baloch people by holding their hand and not by dragging them from the feet.”
On the occasion, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said there was a need to ponder as to what circumstances had forced Sardar Akhtar Mengal to express such feelings.
Sharif said Sardar Attaullah Mengal, the father of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, played an important role in the creation of Pakistan and giving the 1973 Constitution to the country. “We should not forget the ‘Fall of Dhaka’ and should think over the blunders committed in case of Balochistan to save the country,” he said adding the country’s affairs should be run according to the Constitution.
The PML-N leader said the day of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s killing was the worst and blackest day in the history of Pakistan. “We stick to our stance that the murderers of Akbar Bugti should be brought to book,” he said.
Nawaz Sharif pointed out that a petition had been filed in the Supreme Court to ascertain whether Akbar Bugti was killed or he had committed suicide. “But first it should be made clear why Pervez Muharraf said that he would hit the Baloch people from the locations beyond their comprehension,” he said.
Sharif said Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was also sincere to Pakistan as he presented six points against injustice. When his charter of demands was not heeded to, he was left with no choice but to go for separation. “Now Sardar Akhtar Mengal has also presented six points and we need to learn from bitter experiences of the past,” he maintained.
Nawaz Sharif, while appreciating the decision of Akhtar Mengal to return to Pakistan, assured him of his party’s full support in his mission to recover the missing persons.
Former prime minister pointed out that there was a background of what Akhtar Mengal was talking about. “What a pity that your brother was killed and the worst treatment was meted out to your family. I myself was sent to jail on fake charges of hijacking the plane and then was sent on exile,” Nawaz Sharif claimed, questioning why he was punished despite his patriotism.
The PML-N leader maintained that the time to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) or announce a package was not appropriate but there was a need to take immediate and practical steps. “I pray that the Punjab, KP, Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Kashmir remain united,” he said.
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