15 May 2004	Saturday	24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

QUETTA, May 14: Chief Organizer of the National Party Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch has said that the party believed in democracy which ensured the protection of the legitimate rights of the oppressed nationalities besides ensuring the provision of justice to all.

He was speaking during the closed-door session of the National Party's central council here on Friday.

The first four-day national council session of the party began on Thursday and its agenda included the approval of the manifesto and constitution of the party.

The council session would elect new office bearers and hold a public meeting on Sunday.

Dr Hayee said that the present rulers and the privileged class had always used democracy to prolong their rule.

Opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly Mir Kachkol Ali Baloch, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Senator Aslam Buledi, former Senator Tahir Bizenjo and Ishaq Baloch also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Hayee, while highlighting the seriousness of challenges facing Balochistan, said the people of Balochistan should explore new ways to achieve their rights, adding that the party's political leadership and workers should play a more active role to protect the rights of the people.

Opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch criticized Islamabad, saying that after the passing of the LFO, provinces had been deprived of their financial powers.

Sardar Sanaullah Zehri questioned the relevance of major projects being underway in the province, he said large-scale projects like Mirani dam, Gwadar port would not benefit the people of the province, adding that these projects would instead prove to be beneficial for the people belonging to other areas of the country.

He said that when the people of Balochistan had called for initiating such projects, Islamabad had not launched any mega project in the province.

Focussing on the ownership of the resources, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that the National Party and its leadership would not allow anyone to sell out the Balochi lands.

Highlighting Balochistan's role in restoration of democracy in the country, Senator Aslam Buledi criticized major political parties and accused them of denying the rights of smaller nationalities.

He called for inclusion of issues of smaller nationalities in the manifesto of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy besides recognizing that Pakistan was a multi-nationality state if it wanted National Party's support.

The National Party statement issued on Thursday night stated that 500 councillors, including 50 women, participated the session. About 200 senior members of the organization also attended the session as observers, it added.

The National party was formed in 2003 following the merger of Balochistan National Democratic Party and Balochistan National Movement with an aim to unite like-minded nationalist, progressive, and democratic parties.

The party's national council session is also likely to discuss cooperation with other political groups, particularly the party's relationship with the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam).

Before joining hands with the National Party, BNM had allied itself with Ponam besides formed a tri-partite alliance with the Jamhoori Watan Party and the Balochistan National Party (Mengal group) while the BNDP had not formed any alliance.