QUETTA, May 2: The Balochistan National Movement on Sunday stressed the need for national reconciliation among the Baloch political forces for a collective struggle against Punjab's domination and to protect the resources of Balochistan.

At the sixth national council session, held on the eve of 16th death anniversary of Comrade Fida Shaheed, at the hall of the Ayub Stadium, the speakers said the resources of Balochistan had been robbed for the last 56 years.

Newly-elected BNM chief Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Secretary-General Rahim Baloch, Vice-President Lala Munir Baloch, Jamhuri Watan Party leaders Mir Hamayun Baloch and Senator Amanullah Kanrani and others spoke on the occasion.

Ghulam Mohammad said Punjab, backed by the army, had kept the Baloch people slaves and denied them their national rights despite the fact that Balochistan had a vast area, rich resources and long coastline.

He said the voice of the representatives of the Baloch against the denial of rights was never heard in parliament as their protest did not suit the interest of the oppressors, who wanted to maintain a status quo and continue looting the resources of the province.

He said the elected government in Balochistan was dismissed in 1973 and the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan People's Party governments from 1988 till 1999 never honoured agreements made with the coalitions in Balochistan on the rights of the province.

He said that neither the Punjab leadership nor the mainstream democratic parties were sincere in addressing the national question. He said parliament and democracy were useless for the people of Balochistan.

He said the Baloch were suffering at the hands of the oppressors because of some black sheep among the nationalists. He said the rulers and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal supported the Afghan Mujahideen, the Kashmiri freedom fighters and the Palestinian movement but dubbed those traitors who demanded the same rights for the Baloch.

He said the national rights and interest of Balochistan's people could be safeguarded if the Baloch political parties united. He said establishment of cantonments in Gwadar, Dera Bugti and Kohlu would not be allowed.