August 15, 2008	Friday	Sha'aban 12, 1429

QUETTA, Aug 14: The Baloch Women Panel and Anjuman Ittehad Marri observed black day on Thursday and held demonstrations outside the press club. The Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) also held a demonstration.

Addressing the protesters, Zilakhwa Baloch of BWP, Zakir Baloch of Baloch Republican Party and Azad Baloch of BSO criticised successive governments for launching military operations in Balochistan.Speakers said that the Baloch were being treated as slaves and resources of their province were being plundered.

They said that the British colonialist power had singed an agreement with the Khan of Kalat, recognising Kalat as an independent state. But in 1947 the government of Pakistan annexed the Baloch land without the consent of the Baloch people.

They claimed that no Baloch leader attended the 1940 Lahore meeting which adopted the Pakistan resolution.