Voice of Balochistan (VOB) organized a special seminar "A Journey Towards Peace and Reconciliation in Balochistan", with Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail as the chief guest at Balochistan University of Information Technology on the completion of one year of the ex-separatist Gulzar Imam Shambayzai joining the mainstream.
The objectives of the event were to bring peace and reconciliation in Balochistan and bring together the surrendered militants with political stakeholders and youth leaders.
Further objectives of the talks were to understand the multi-stakeholder approach, to focus on building a road map for a peaceful future of Balochistan, to promote understanding by providing a platform for dialogue among different groups, peace and discuss viable strategies for reconciliation, and to highlight the role and involvement of youth in the peace process.
The event also featured discussions on the phenomenon of militants laying down their arms, political avenues for reconciliation, the role of youth in the journey of change, and a common road map for peace.
The guests included MPs Meena Majeed, Prince Agha Umar, Rahila Hameed Durrani, Zarak Mandukhel, Rahmat Saleh, Zareen Magsi, and former MPAs Sana Baloch and Mehjabeen Sheeran.
Journalists such as Prince Zulfiqar, Bushra Qamar, Asim Khan, Salim Shahid, and Syed Ali Shah, as well as Senator Kamran Murtaza, Deputy Attorney General Rauf Atta, and lawyers Tayyaba Kakar and Nargis Samalani, also participated in the seminar.
Social workers, civil society, and other sectors were represented by Zia Khan of Quetta Online, Educationist Rahima Jalal, Commissioner Quetta Division Hamza Shafqat, and Founder of IDSP Quetta Qaratul Ain Bakhtiari.
Sarfraz Bungulzai, Minister for Home & Tribal Affairs Meer Ziaullah Langove, Minister for Education Rahila Durrani, Minister P&D Zahoor Buledi, Spokesperson GOB Shahid Rind and BUITEMS VC Prof. Dr. Khalid Hafiz also addressed the gathering.
The event addressed Balochistan's issues, state reconciliation efforts, education and development policies, narrative building, and youth engagement, attended by several students from BUITEMS, SBK, UOB, and NUST with many other dignitaries.
