23 May 2004	Sunday	03 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

QUETTA, May 22: Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) chief Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal has said Balochs were struggling to foil the designs of occupation forces that wanted to turn their majority into minority by launching the so-called mega projects in Balochistan.

Speaking in the Hal-o-Ahwal programme of the press club here on Saturday, the veteran Baloch nationalist leader categorically declared that Balochs had a self-defence right to resist the unconstitutional and illegal methods of the usurpers.

Flanked by Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the ex-chief minister announced that the ISI would not be successful in what he said pitting Balochs and Pukhtuns against each other to achieve its nefarious designs.

Sardar Mengal alleged that the oppressors, who were looting the resources of Balochistan, had occupied the motherland of Balochs by ignoring all the established principles to take the leadership of the natives into confidence on the vital decisions related to politics and economics.

Sardar Mengal warned that Balochs would not abandon their struggle whether the military rulers termed us terrorists or anti-state elements or traitors.

The Baloch leader claimed that without the sacrifice of blood, the occupation forces would be reluctant to accept the rights of the natives.

He said the development projects in Gwadar were a matter of life and death for Balochs as the influx of non-local population from outside the province would imbalance the demographic ratio of Balochistan, turning the native majority into minority.

About the bomb explosion in Gwadar, the Ponam chief said he did not know who was involved in the blast, but said that if Balochs were doing it, he was very happy that the natives were resisting the occupation forces.

The Ponam leader opined that the usurpers would not listen to Balochs' demand to frame a new constitution without a resisting movement by the nationalists parties.