QUETTA, Dec 3: The leader of opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Mr Kachkol Ali, has called upon journalists and the intelligentsia to play their role in steering the country out of the present crisis and support the efforts to solve problems being faced by the oppressed sections of the society.

Speaking at a luncheon he hosted on Friday in honour of leaders and delegates of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (Apnec) who are here to attend the FEC and NEC meetings of the two organizations, he said that politicians and journalists could help each other in highlighting the real issues.

He said that journalists should not compromise on their professional principles and always project facts. Referring to the problems of Balochistan, he called upon journalists to highlight the injustices being meted out to the province by the federal authorities.

He said that it was because of the fact that issues and problems of Balochistan had been highlighted that the powerful establishment agreed to hold talks with nationalist forces for the first time in the history of Pakistan, by setting up parliamentary committees of the Senate and the National Assembly.

He said that Balochistan was facing serious financial problems because its minerals and other resources were being used for the development of another province, while the people of this backward province were being deprived of their rights.

"We are fighting for the rule of law, restoration of real democracy and protecting the rights of the poor people of all segments of the society," he said. Referring to problems being faced by the journalist community he said that his National Party would support them in solving these problems.

Meanwhile, the three-day meeting of the National Executive Council of the Apnec which started here on Friday, discussed various issues being faced by the community in the country, including implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award.

The meeting reviewed the plans for a protest movement for the implementation of wage award and criticized the attitude of the government on the issue. It urged the Balochistan government to link advertisements to newspapers with the implementation of the wage award. A joint session of the National Executive Council of Apnec and the Federal Executive Council of the PFUJ will be held on Saturday.