Tribes resolve dispute over Asia’s largest coal mine
Bureau Report

QUETTA—Luni and Marri tribes signed a formal peace agreement at a ceremony here Wednesday in the presence of Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf to ensure mining in the largest coal field of Asia, Chamalang, in Loralai district. Corps Commander Lt General Hamid Rab Nawaz was also present on the occasion.
Luni tribe chief Sardar Ismatullah Luni and Marri tribe head Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani signed the agreement on behalf of their respective tribes while federal minister Mir Naseer Mengal, provincial minister Syed Ehsan Shah, MPA Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and former governor Sardar Gul Mohammad Jogezai signed as witnesses.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor termed the agreement important and expressed pleasure that both tribes have ended their long-standing animosity and hatred to ensure development in the area. Animosity and bloodshed result in destructions and backwardness, he said, adding the agreement also shows the strength of the government as efforts were made in the past by governments to resolve the tribal dispute, but to no avail.
“There are certainly some evil forces which are displeased with this agreement and would try their best to make it a failure, but we should be aware of their intrigues and should take proper measures to foil them”, he urged.
Three years back when he took charge as Balochistan governor, Owais said, he had realized that tribal feuds were the greatest hurdle in the way of development of Balochistan, hence, he always stressed the need to resolve these disputes.
Owais expressed the hope that other tribes of the province would learn a lesson from this truce and resolve their mutual differences and animosities in an amicable manner. Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf, speaking on the occasion, termed the agreement an advancement towards economic development of the province and said there is need to resolve all disputes in the same manner to ensure a prosperous and developed Balochistan.
“The agreement will prove a milestone for our coming generations besides removing the deprivations of the people”, he observed. He paid tribute to Corps Commander and Governor for their sincere efforts to resolve the long-standing disputes between the Luni and Marri tribes.
Earlier, Director General Mines and Minerals Maqbool Ahmed highlighted the economic importance of the Chamalang coal field and said it is the biggest coal field of Asia that would ensure jobs to 40,000 people.