December 08, 2006	Friday	Ziqa'ad 16, 1427

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KARACHI, Dec 7: Khan of Kalat Suleiman Daud has accused the federal government of betraying the Baloch people and denying them their rights. The Balochistan issue could be resolved only if the rulers honoured the pledges made with the people of the province by the founder of the country, he told newsmen at a hunger-strike camp set up by the National Party outside the Karachi Press Club.

He said the former Kalat States Union had joined the country under a treaty signed by the British government, India and Pakistan about ensuring the union’s sovereign status.

He said that under the arrangement it had been assured that the central government would retain only three subjects and the remaining would be given to the provinces.

But the successive rulers of the country did not honour the pledges and started domination of Balochistan by subjugating its people politically and economically and exploiting its natural resources, he said.

The situation, he said, had created restive conditions in the province and the Baloch people had been forced to resist the repressive policies.

According to him, the Baloch were discontented because they felt that they had been excluded from the state structures of economic and political power.

Replying to questions, the Khan said he was in contact with lawyers to move the International Court of Justice on the validity of the treaty. He said he was also considering moving the Supreme Court again, which had earlier refused to entertain petitions regarding treaties and pacts made by the government.

He said was no democracy in the country and it was being ruled by the military.

Had there been a democratic order in the country, the situation would have been different, he remarked.

When he was asked what would be his reaction if President Pervez Musharraf approached him for dialogue, the Khan said anyone visiting his home would be welcomed according to the Baloch traditions. However, he said, political decisions would be taken with the consent of other Baloch leaders.

He said the Balochistan issue had become more complicated because of ongoing military operation and continued arrests of Baloch activists.