KHUZDAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Sunday that the people of Balochistan would resist foreign interference in their province.

He was speaking at a ‘peace conference’ organised by his party in the Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo Stadium here.

He alleged that the United States and other foreign forces had taken control of natural resources of Afghanistan and they were now trying to do the same in Balochistan.

JUI-F chief calls for shunning sectarianism

The Maulana said the people of Balochistan were the real owners of natural resources found in their province and they would not allow foreign forces to take control of them.

He criticised the US for what he called its double standards in the region. He accused Washington of helping India in its interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. He said the people of Pakistan were united to foil conspiracies against their country.

The JUI-F chief said China was a true friend of Pakistan and the relationship between the two countries would further improve with the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The CPEC, he said, would open the doors of economic opportunities for Pakistan. The people of Balochistan would be the biggest beneficiary of this project, he added.

He said some foreign elements were trying to fan the flames of sectarianism in Pakistan. They want to divide people on sectarian grounds to achieve their nefarious designs. But, he said, people of the country would foil all such conspiracies.

The JUI-F chief criticised nationalist parties and said both Baloch and Pakhtun nationalists had failed in solving problems of people.

He said Balochistan was the land of love but some elements were trying to destroy its peace by pitting people against each other. He said the JUI-F would continue its struggle for the restoration of peace in the province.

He said his party would not compromise on the rights of the people of Balochistan and would continue efforts for the protection of the province’s natural resources.

Others who also spoke included Deputy Chairman of Senate and JUI-F Secretary General, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, member of National Assembly Maulana Qamaruddin, former governor of Balochistan Fazal Agha and Maulana Ameer Zaman.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2016