January 30, 2007	Tuesday	Muharram 10, 1428

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QUETTA, Jan 29: Leaders of the National Party said on Sunday that the Baloch through unity could defeat the oppressors who had been killing the people and looting the resources of Balochistan.

Speaking at a public meeting in Panjgur held to commemorate the 4th death anniversary of Riaz Baloch, NP chief Dr Hayee Baloch said that without independent parliament and judiciary the usurpers would continue the exploitation.

The leader of Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Kachkol Ali, NP secretary-general Mir Hasil Bizenjo, MPAs Jan Mohammad Buledi and Rehmat Ali Baloch, Panjgur BNP-Mengal president Mir Nazir Ahmed, BNM acting president Munir Ahmed Baloch and BSO chairman Wahid Rahim also spoke on the occasion.

Paying rich tributes to Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti for sacrificing his life to defend the resources of Balochistan, Dr Hayee urged the Baloch to follow the path of the late leader to protect the rights.

He said that people from all strata of society, including doctors, teachers, labourers, workers, civil servants, peasants, students and women should contribute to the national struggle to achieve the full sovereignty for the Baloch so that they could live with honour and respect in this world.

The NP leader said that the Baloch had faced military operations, arrests, oppression, excesses and looting of their resources by the oppressors for five decades, but the sons of soil remained steadfast in their struggle.

He said that atrocities could not force the Baloch to give up their struggle and surrender before the autocratic rulers to compromise on the sacrifices of martyrs.

He said that the struggle would continue till the usurpers were defeated.

Dr Hayee said that the Balochistan issue would not be resolved by keeping political workers behind the bars and added that the government had detained thousands of political activists, including BNP leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

He said that the rulers could not achieve the desired results.

He categorically declared that mega projects, including the Gwadar uplift programme, and setting up of cantonments were unacceptable to the Baloch.

He said that aforementioned development activities would change the demography of Balochistan and would convert the Baloch majority into a minority.

The NP leader said that Jam Mohammad Yousuf was not the chief minister as real powers rest with invisible forces and the Jam could not protect the rights of Balochistan.

He said that the military operation in the province should be stopped and arrested political workers should be released in order to resolve the Balochistan issue through political means, instead of using the state apparatus to suppress political movement that enjoyed the backing of the Baloch.