ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) conceded on Tuesday that even in several government schools of the provincial capital of Balochistan, national anthem has been abandoned and the national flag is no more hoisted.

Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi during a media chat on Monday also expressed concern over the unfortunate practice and called for a thorough investigation into it.Nawabzada Mir Lashkari Raisani, who is PPP Balochistan Chapter’s President, when approached for comments, confirmed that schools in many areas no more echoed with the national anthem.



“Yes, it is a bitter reality that some elements are promoting this idea of abandoning the national anthem and avoid hoisting Pakistani flag on the school buildings and other government buildings,” the Baloch leader, who recently held back his resignation as a member of the Senate, maintained.

The National Party’s newly-elected legislator, Hasil Bezinjo, made a stunning revelation during the recently-prorogued session of Senate that the schools in his province had abandoned the national anthem because of the “seething injustices committed to the people of the province”.

A source close to Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani told this correspondent from Quetta that the government was fully aware of the trend and he blamed a handful of separatist elements. However, he was quick to add that before this unfortunate practice took an ugly turn, those sitting in Islamabad, would have to take concrete measures to rectify the situation in Pakistanís largest but the poorest province.

The chief minister was not available for comments, as he was to board a plane for Islamabad, where he was expected to take up the latest situation in the province with the federal government.

Bismillah Khan Kakar, who is PPPís Secretary General, Balochistan, when contacted, said that certain elements were now openly campaigning for Balochistan’s separation from Pakistan in the provincial capital.

“When we move around, we can see graffiti on walls of buildings even very close to the Governor House and the Chief Minister House in the heart of Quetta. The writings reflect the rebellious thinking of certain people,” he pointed out.

He referred to slogan like ‘long live Free Balochistan’ written on scores of government offices and schools. Kakar, who belongs to District Qila Saifullah’s Habibzai locality, was of the view that it was time to act and act fast to address grievances of the people of Balochistan.

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