KARACHI, April 8: The opposition parties in Balochistan are considering tendering enmass resignations from assemblies in protest against the regime’s repressive policies which were aimed at denying rights to Balochs. This was sated by leader of the opposition in Balochistan assembly, Kachkol Ali Advocate while speaking at a joint press conference with his counterpart in Sindh assembly Nisar Khuhro on Saturday.
Both the opposition leaders, who were joined by the National Party’s Abdul Hayee Baloch, slammed the army operation in Balochistan and siege of the residence of Ataullah and Akhtar Mengal and termed it a conspiracy and state terrorism against democratic forces struggling for their rights and confronting dictatorship.
Mr Ali demanded self rule and recognition of the rights of Balochs on their resources and declared that military regime’s policy was tantamount to colonization and that was not acceptable to the people of the province.
He condemned government’s policies and said that its policy of denial of rights and pushing the people to the wall was exacerbating bitterness among the people.
Mr Ali and Mr Hayee Baloch called upon the human rights organizations and national and international organizations to raise their voice against, what they called, state terrorism against the people of Balochistan.
They were of the view that the military regime had isolated itself due to its anti-people policies.
Kachkol Ali alleged that the people of Balochistan were being deprived of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, accusing the government of illegally detaining hundreds of political opponents.
He alleged that government was strangulating the democratic process in the country.
The two opposition leaders condemned siege of former Balochistan Chief Minister Akhtar Mengal’s house, harassment and registration of false cases by law enforcement agencies.
They were of the view that military operation in Balochistan was pre-planned conspiracy.
Dr Hayee Baloch did not agree with the regime’s claim that anti-government forces had created state within state in Balochistan and alleged that the establishment itself was following that course.
Dr Hayee alleged government was indulging in gross violation of human rights in Balochistan and using arbitrary and extra-constitutional methods against Balochs, political activists and intellectuals.
He claimed that more than 6,000 people had been picked up by security agencies and their whereabouts were unknown as yet.
The NP chief also criticized the government for its failure to check price hike, unemployment and lawlessness in the country and asked government to establish “writ” in such issues, being faced by masses.
Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro slammed the regime’s polices owing to which Pakistan had been put on the spot.
Mr Khuhro referred to the US official’s remarks on democracy and elections in Pakistan and claimed that ever since that statement was made, the regime had become more active in suppressing the opposition through ruthless means.
Nisar Khuhro said it was the result of peaceful democratic struggle that US assistant secretary of state has suggested to the government that Balochistan issue could be resolved politically.
Nisar Khuhro claimed that siege of Mengal’s house in Karachi has proved that the military regime had extended its Balochistan operation to Sindh where the people were also demanding their rightful share in governance and economic and political empowerment.
BSO rally: Activists of Baloch Students Organization staged a rally outside Karachi Press Club demanding an end to military operation in Balochistan and release of Baloch activist, including writer Dr Hanif Sharif Baloch.
