Jirga for including Rajanpur, DG Khan in Balochistan

Jirga for including Rajanpur, DG Khan in Balochistan

DERA GHAZI KHAN: A Jirga comprising intellectuals and social and political figures has demanded that the Baloch-dominated Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan should either be included in Balochistan or be made an independent province, Koh-e-Suleman, to end backwardness in the area.??

An organisation, the Baloch Sangat Qaumi Tehreek, was established to motivate the Baloch population for the inclusion of the two districts in Balochistan. The Jirga was held at the residence of Mir Abdul Rehman Khan Buzdar on Thursday night and was attended by representatives of Baloch tribes, including Buzdar, Qaisrani, Leghari, Mazari, Chakrani, Dostlani, Hadiyani, Ghulamani, Hamlani and other leading tribes.?

The Jirga unanimously adopted a resolution against the Seraiki province. It also established a six-member committee comprising Mir Abdul Rehman Buzdar, Jamal Khan Leghari, Dr Abdul Rehman Leghari, Dr Iqbal Habibullah Buzdar and Ghulam Qasim Mujahid Baloch to suggest a name for the party. The Jirga announced that the Baloch tribes would continue their struggle against the tribal chiefs and feudal lords, who were demanding the Seraiki province and ignored the southern Punjab in terms of development.

The Balochistan National Party district president, Kaka Buzdar, said that majority of schools in the tribal areas were dysfunctional and students were unable to study while feudal lords were totally ignoring the issue.

Ghulam Qasim Mujahid Baloch said that the rulers were exploiting the rights of common people and tribesmen. Allah Bakhash Buzdar, Rab Nawaz Leghari, Safdar Buzdar, Iqbal Khan Leghari, Nazeer Khan and other tribal dignitaries attended the Jirga.?

Allah Bakhash Buzdar, advocate, an eminent historian and intellectual, said that Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur had been the part of Balochistan historically, culturally and socially as over 90 per cent population in both semi-tribal districts belonged to various Baloch tribes, being on the tail-end of the Punjab, felt a sense of deprivation.??

He said that thousands of people belonging to the ignored districts were serving in various departments of Balochistan after job opportunities were not provided to them in the Punjab. He alleged that tribal heads were only protecting their personal interests and had no concern with the masses. He declared the government-sponsored feudal system the root cause of the backwardness and said that the forum would properly serve the purpose against the powerful feudal and tribal chiefs. It was also decided that meetings of the Baloch Sangat would be held in both districts regularly.??????????????