National Party is a Baloch nationalist political party and mostly comprises of Makran’s middle class. It came into being in 2003 with seasoned politician Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch as its founder. Hayee Baloch was elected the first central president of the party with Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo as its principal office bearers.

NP came into being in the aftermath of the merger of Balochistan National Movement and Balochistan National Democratic Party. Mounting pressure on part of Baloch nationalist workers coerced BNM and BNDP to bury the hatchet and form a united party for the protection of Baloch rights and resources. In 2002, BNM and BNDP participated in the general elections held during the regime of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. BNM won three provincial assembly seats whereas BNDP captured just one.

NP was in opposition throughout the five-year-long rule of late Jam Muhammad Yousaf as Balochistan’s chief minister. The party is critical of Islamabad’s policies towards Balochistan and has stood against what it calls the exploitation of Baloch resources. It moreover works to mobilise and educated the public to ensure the protection of the southwestern province’s coast and resources.

NP boycotted the 2008 election on account of its role in the All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM) and continued raising its voice against extra-judicial killings and kidnappings of political workers in Balochistan during the five years of the PPP-led government in the province and at the centre. However, simultaneously, the party faced criticism from Baloch separatist groups who blamed it for propagating Islamabad’s agenda under the cover of a democratic struggle for Baloch rights.

During the past five years, some key members of NP were also killed during different incidents of targeted killings in Makran, Khuzdar as well as in other parts of Balochistan. The party also addressed and protested over the recovery of bullet-riddled bodies and kidnappings of Baloch political workers.

The party stands for complete provincial autonomy with all the federating units having control over their respective resources. It demands that except for foreign, defence and currency, all departments must be devolved to units to make the country a strong federation.

The NP opposes handing over of Gwadar port to the Chinese government and demands that the elected government of Balochistan must be given the power to strike any foreign deal when it comes to ports, coasts and resources of the province. Similarly, the party has reservations about the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and says Baloch people should have been taken into confidence over any deal with the neighboring country.

The NP is participating in the May 11 general elections and is fielding candidates on almost all national and provincial assembly seats in Balochistan. The party’s stronghold lies in the militancy-hit Makran belt, central Balochistan and in some parts of western Balochistan as well. The party also has a strong presence in Quetta.

— Text and research by Syed Ali Shah