ISLAMABAD, April 7: The Balochistan Solidarity Front (BSF), an alliance of progressive political organizations, intellectuals and workers, has demanded an immediate end to the ongoing military operation and political victimization in Balochistan.

Talking to reporters at the Rawalpindi Press Club camp office here on Friday, the BSF leaders said: “The increasingly militant mood of the nationalist movement in the province is a direct outcome of the state’s repression in the troubled province.”

Speaking on the occasion, Asim Sajjad of People’s Rights Movement (PRM) said the federal government continued to insist on “enforcing the writ of the state”, adding that this was increasing the alienation felt by the Baloch people.

The BSF blamed the government of pushing the people of Balochistan towards separatism. He warned the government to change its attitude and recognize the need to acknowledge the rights of the Baloch.

Mr Sajjad said the federal government had tried to totally suppress all news of dissent and resistance in Balochistan by depicting the current unrest as being the handiwork of only a handful of Sardars.

“In fact, the sentiment against the centre is widespread and is increasing by the day, which suggests that a situation very similar to that of 1971 in east Pakistan is developing,” he added.

The PRM representative said in the past the ruling class had itself been responsible for the country’s breakup simply because it refused to accept the emergence of a genuinely representative political process.

The present government is similarly doctoring and engineering politics so as to ensure that its own henchmen are in positions of power, whereas the rights of traditionally oppressed nations such as the Baloch are being marginalized more than ever, he added.

Masudul Hasan of the National Workers Party (NWP) said the working people of the Punjab and other provinces expressed complete solidarity with the Baloch and they would support their struggle through all means necessary.

He said for a long time, nationalist politics had been exclusive and caused divides between oppressed classes across different nationalities within the country. However, on this occasion, the working people of Punjab do not believe the lies being propagated by the ruling class, and they support the democratic struggle of the Baloch people.

Zahoor Khan of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party said it could not be denied that Balochistan’s resources including gas should be used first and foremost to benefit the Baloch people, and this was what meaningful development would entail. However, the centre insists on usurping these resources by claiming that they are monopolized by a handful of elite.

In fact the demands emanating from Balochistan at the present time are those of the people, and it is the government itself that is enhancing the profile and importance of the Baloch elite.

Imran Shan of the Jammu Kashmir People’s National Party said the story of Pakistan was a story of oppression within the country.

He said the Pakistani state had made a habit out of championing the Kashmir cause but had always done so in its own interests, to be able to maintain a huge army and dominate state affairs. In fact it has never done anything for the Kashmiri people, as is evident from the shambolic response to the October 8 earthquake.

The BSF representatives said they would support any call from the Baloch nationalist movement to engage in protests in the capital city.