KARACHI, Jan 6: Nationalist parties in Balochistan will take a joint stand on the proposed all parties conference to be held in London and called by the Pakistan Mulim League (N) chief Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.

A Balochistan National Party (M) source in Karachi confirmed that an emissary of the PML-N chief had delivered a message to party founder Sardar Ataullah Mengal and some other nationalist parties.

According to him, Sardar Mengal assured the PML emissary that the BNP (M) would join any struggle which aimed at dislodging the regime of General Musharraf and to establish a genuine democratic setup ensuring full autonomy to the smaller units of the country. However, a final decision about the proposed conference would be taken after consulting leaders of other nationalist parties of the province.

The BNP source disclosed that the BNP leader had already established contacts with the leaders of National Party and met NP Secretary-General Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo in Khuzdar. He further said Sardar Mengal was also trying to contact veteran Baloch leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh to seek his views on the issue of the proposed all parties conference.

It is further learnt that National Party leaders had agreed to the proposed move as the party believed that a broader unity among democratic, liberal and nationalist forces was the need of the hour to launch a collective struggle against the dictatorial regime.