QUETTA: Baloch Republican Party (BRP) chief Nawabzada Baramdagh Bugti has asked Balochistan Governor Zulfikar Magsi, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and all Baloch members of the national and provincial assemblies to tender resignation and join the Baloch “movement for independence”.
Speaking at his first telephonic press conference from Switzerland here on Wednesday, he rejected the proposed all-parties conference on the Balochistan issue and said Baloch people would not negotiate on anything less than independence of Balochistan.
“Nawab Magsi, Nawab Raiasni and other Baloch people who are part of the government should quit after seeing the bodies of Baloch daughters, sons and youths and join the struggle for independence of Balochistan,” Baramdagh said, adding that if they were not willing to join the movement they should “sit quietly” at home and not become part of the government’s “anti-Baloch policies”.
He belittled Islamabad’s reaction to the tabling of a resolution in the US House of Representatives seeking right of self-determination for the people of Balochistan, contending that the rulers, political parties and media had started speaking about the province only because they thought that after the move in the US House had made “Punjab unsafe”.
“Why have they remained silent hitherto over the misery heaped on the Baloch by the state since in the shape of disappearances and bullet-riddled bodies since 2005,” the Baloch leader remarked.
“If the government claims that nothing is happening in Balochistan, why is it not allowing the media and human rights organisations to visit Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Kahan and other areas of the province,” he wondered.
He said the ruling elite had all the sympathy for Punjab but none whatsoever for Balochistan.
The BRP chief praised Congressman Dana Rohrabacher for feeling the pains of Baloch people and moving the resolution.
He accused PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and leaders of other parties were visiting the camps of relatives of missing people only for political gains, alleging “they all are part of the system responsible for ‘genocide’ of Baloch people”.
“They mistakenly think that killing Baloch people will save Pakistan.”
In reply to a question about the proposed APC on Balochistan, Baramdagh said the “killers of Baloch people” were now clamouring for a conference. The APC and incentive packages were no longer a solution, he warned.
“Now we will not agree on anything less than independence,” the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti said.
He said Balochistan had come on the international radar because of the sacrifices rendered by the Baloch.
In reply to a question, he said Pakhtuns were “our brothers” and free to take any decision about their future.
Baramdagh Bugti rejected a perception that he was living in Switzerland thanks to a deal. “I have not made any deal.”
He said Nawab Akbar Bugti, Nawabzada Balach Marri, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir, Sher Mohammad and other Baloch leaders had opted for political struggle, but all of them ended up being eliminated by the state. “The state does not like political struggle against atrocities being committed against the Baloch people.” In reply to a question about merger of all Baloch parties into a single entity, he said although it was difficult, “we are making efforts nevertheless”
He said the Baloch struggling for their rights were not receiving any aid from any country. However, he said if India, the United States or any other country offered them aid they would welcome it.
He appealed to the US, European Union and the United Nations to intervene in Balochistan and rid the Baloch people of atrocities being committing against them.
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