KARACHI, Aug 12: Baloch students, youths and intellectuals here on Saturday pledged to continue their struggle for rights.

Speaking at a seminar, they criticized the successive rulers of Pakistan for neglecting Balochs. They were of the view their cultural values had been destroyed by imposing an alien culture.

They argued that people of Balochistan had always protested against the colonial approach of rulers as a result they had been subjected to military operations five times.

Titled Baloch national struggle in global perspective, the seminar was organized by the Baloch Students Organization on Friday evening in Mullah Fazal Hall in Chawkiwara. It was largely attended by BSO activists and Baloch youth. In their speeches, the BSO leaders said their struggle had entered a new phase and it will continue till the acceptance of the rights of Balochs. They said rulers were trying to give a wrong impression that it was a tribal battle.

The ongoing struggle is against exploitation and subjugation of Balochs by a dominant nation. They maintained, saying there would be no compromise on this point.

Chaired by BSO chairman Bashir Zeb Baloch, the seminar was addressed by BSO leaders, including its secretary-general Zakir Majid Baloch, Hanif Dil Murad Baloch, besides Comrade Lal Bakhsh Rind alias Comrade Lala, Comrade Rahim Bakhsh Baloch.

They urged the international organizations to play their due role and pressure Pakistan government to stop atrocities in Balochistan and release the detained or kidnapped Baloch activists.