June 01, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

KARACHI, May 31: Talks cannot be held with the government on the Balochistan issue unless confidence-building measures are taken to pave the way for holding a meaningful dialogue, according to Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

Akhtar Mengal, chief of his own faction of the Balochistan National Party, termed the offer for talks by the PPP-led government a positive step but said that in view of the “ongoing military operation, massive crackdown against Baloch political activists and students, illegal detentions and disappearances of people”, no nationalist party would be willing to hold talks.

Addressing the ‘Meet-the-Press’ programme organised by the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, the BNP leader set four basic demands for initiating talks. He said the authorities should:

— halt army action in Baloch-istan;

— free all detained people;

— help recover the missing people, and;

— rehabilitate the displaced people.

Criticising the previous military and civilian governments, Mr Mengal said the rulers had always treated the Baloch people as slaves, branded them as traitors and used brute force to suppress them.

He also held the military rulers responsible for creating the present anarchy-like situation in the country.

However, he said the Baloch people would, in no way, compromise on their sovereign rights and would continue to wage a struggle to achieve their political and economic rights.

The BNP leader also accused the rulers of complicating the Balochistan issue in order to control the province’s resources. Terming the Balochistan issue simple, he said it was related to sovereign rights of an independent people.

Arguing that the basic issue was the recognition of the Baloch people’s rights on Balochistan’s resources, he said only they should be responsible for their protection. He said: “We will not allow other people to loot and plunder our resources.”

Criticising the role of military rulers, the Baloch leader said they had “destroyed all national institutions”. He praised lawyers and the media for their efforts to restore democracy.

Condemning the killing of six youths in Quetta on Friday, Mr Mengal said that his party was against all kinds of inhuman acts, including the incidents of May 12, Lal Masjid and Wana. “People who are responsible for these incidents must be held accountable.”

When he was asked to comment on the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, he said it would be better if the rulers were asked about it.