August 21, 2007	Tuesday	Sha’aban 7, 1428

QUETTA, Aug 20: The Balochistan National Party (Mengal) has formally joined the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) and decided to participate in the upcoming elections.

Acting President Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldani chaired the two-day central executive committee meeting in Quetta on August 18 and 19, which endorsed the signing of the APDM charter by the party’s representative Nuruddin Mengal in London.

A statement issued on Monday stated that the party had reservations over the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s support for the military operation in Balochistan and it being a part of the provincial coalition government.

The meeting lauded the sacrifices rendered by Nawab Akbar Bugti and decided to back the Jamhoori Watan Party’s decision to observe a black day and strike in the province on the first death anniversary of the Nawab on August 26.

The executive committee postponed the national council session of the party and authorised its cabinet to lead the central convention at an appropriate time.

The meeting decided on a schedule to protest against the detention of party leader Sardar Mengal and hundreds of missing persons, the military operation in Balochistan, launching of mega projects and looting of provincial resources.

Rallies will be held on September 1, public meetings on September 11, black day on September 30 and a token hunger strike on October 28, the statement said.

The meeting said that after the situation in Afghanistan normalises,

Afghan refugees in Balochistan should be sent back to their homeland. They said the local population was facing numerous problems due to the presence of Afghan and Iranian refugees in the province.

The party expressed dissatisfaction over relief efforts in flood-hit areas and condemned government apathy.