16 May 2004	Sunday	25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

QUETTA, May 15: The Baloch people are not against progress but will not allow any development programme that created a demographic imbalance, turning the local people into a minority in their own province , says president of Balochistan National Party (Mengal group) Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

He was talking to journalists here at the Mengal House on Saturday.

Sardar Akhtar alleged that the government was trying to defame the nationalists in connection with the mega development projects issue.

He said that the nationalists enjoyed the support of the majority of population on various issues, including opposing the Gwadar port project and the establishment of cantonments in the province, adding that they would continue their resistance in this regard.

He said that despite the existence of a cantonment in Quetta, there was no progress on the Sariab Road, adding that cantonments had also existed in Sibi and Khuzdar but these areas also lacked development. The establishment of cantonments was aimed at launching military operations against opponents of the government.

Responding to a question regarding the government's blaming the nationalists for the Gwadar blast, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) leader said such propaganda was aimed at forcing the nationalists to abandon their struggle against mega projects, adding that they were not worried about baseless charges.

Criticizing the provincial government, he said the government had failed to protect the lives and property of the citizens.