September 15, 2003	Monday	Rajab 17, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

QUETTA, Sept 14: Nationalist leaders have vowed to protect the rights of Baloch and resist the establishment of cantonments, construction of Gwadar port and military operation in the province.

Speaking at a public meeting held at tehsil park in Sui town on Sunday, they assured the people of NWFP and Sindh that the inhabitants of Balochistan would support them in their struggle against Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal project and launch joint efforts to protect the right of smaller nationalities.

Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawab Akbar Bugti said that the Balochs keeping their forefathers in high esteem would not let the usurpers exploit them and plunder their natural resources.

He said that despite struggling from different platforms for their rights the Balochs were united on the issues concerning their collective rights.

The JWP chief said that they would not let anybody use their soil and loot the natural resources, which were the right of the Balochs.

He said that the people of the province were facing challenges as they were being turned into minority by building cantonments in Sui, Kohlu, Jhalwan and Gwadar.

He vowed to resist any move aimed at making the Balochs a minority.

He said that the Baloch youth would dare any move aimed at depriving them of their motherland and rights.

Mr Bugti referred to the Kalabagh dam issue and Greater Thal Canal project stating that the NWFP Assembly had adopted three resolutions against the dam construction and the Sindh Assembly had rejected the canal project, but President Gen Pervez Musharraf was hell bent to begin their construction and wanted the assemblies to withdraw their decisions.

He asked the people of Sindh and the NWFP not to compromise on their rights and assured them of the support of the Balochs to fight collectively for safeguarding the rights of the smaller nationalities.

The former chief minister and leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), Sardar Akhtar Mengal, warned that the so-called mega projects including the Gwadar port would endanger the identity of Baloch people.

He said that oppressors always benefited from creating divisions among the Baloch political parties, but the Balochs have realized the importance of safeguarding their motherland from the usurpers.

Mr Mengal alleged that the rulers in Islamabad in order to protect the exploitative policy of Punjab have dubbed the nationalists forces of Balochistan, the NWFP and Sindh as traitors and said: “Our only fault was that we struggle for the just rights of the oppressed smaller nationalities.”

The BNP-M leader accused the government that for the past five decades the rulers had always treated the people of the smaller provinces as slaves.

He said that the real leadership of Balochistan, the NWFP and Sindh were never taken into confidence while taking vital decisions related to the internal and foreign policies.

Balochistan National Movement (BNM) chief Dr Hayee Baloch said that exploiters were fooling the Balochs in the name of uplift projects and blamed the government of launching the development schemes just to strengthen the oppressors.

He stressed unity among the Baloch parties to achieve their due rights.

MPA Nawabzada Balaach Marri vowed that they would fight back the anti-Baloch elements.

He said that Punjab with the help of the army was trying to dismember the Baloch nation and wanted to bring a split among it by separating Gwadar from other areas of the province.

The parliamentarian claimed that the assemblies were powerless and military rulers were using the so-called elected representatives to achieve their nefarious designs against the oppressed provinces.

Mr Marri assured the participants that the nationalist leaders would not compromise on the rights of the Balochs at any cost.