Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
In a blow to the PML-N, Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani — former senator and the ruling party's leader from Balochistan — joined the Balochistan National Party (BNP) on Sunday evening.
Along with Raisani, a large number of other political workers also parted ways with PML-N and joined the BNP.
"Balochistan has always been ignored and deprived [of its due rights] by rulers," Raisani told the supporters gathered on Sariab Road. He vowed to continue his political struggle for the "acquisition of usurped rights of people of Balochistan".
"Balochistan has been turned into a heap of explosives," said veteran Baloch nationalist leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of BNP, while addressing the gathering.
People belonging to all areas and ethnic groups have suffered the loss of human lives during the unrest in the province, Mengal said.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that previously, Balochistan's society had been a tolerant and progressive one. Religious fanaticism and sectarianism were a new phenomenon, he added, condemning the recent attack at a church in Quetta and killings of ethnic Hazaras.
He lashed out at the government for what he called its continued failure to provide drinking water to the residents of Gwadar. People of Gwadar are still awaiting on drinking water and you speak about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said while addressing the leadership of PML-N.
Lashkari Raisani is the younger brother of former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani. He had resigned from the post of PPP Balochistan president in April 2012 and joined PML-N in March 2013. He has previously served as a provincial minister in the Balochistan cabinet as well as a senator during the PPP-led government in the center.
Comments (11) Closed
This is beginning NS ...
Gone with the wind. Great
Rich and powerful. They tare the royals of pakistan. They can do no wrong. The poor masses just slaving away for these few.
Your countries woes will only resolved by becoming masters of your own house by getting total independence
@naji does that have meaning too? if so, what is it??
@shoukat. sheikh speak for your loser self.
@Aisha so true, it is only a matter of time. Keep faith in almighty and freedom yes we shall attain
I think people in Balouchistan will find that their problems are not that different from people around Pakistan. No water. If there is water its not clean. Load shedding, lack of provision of education, lack of opportunities and jobs etc. This all comes down to corruption, mismanagement of funds and resources by elected officials. Those in power or have some influence due to family heritage want to maintain the status quo. These sardars just want to hold back the youth from moving on. They discourage integration and education. I remember as a child that the old NWFP used to be like that. But people moved on. Where is ANP now. People of Baluchistan simply need better standard of representatives which they can get through voting different candidates in elections. And the criteria doesn't need to be these so called sardars. What do they know about the suffering of the common man They don't know what hunger is. What do they know about struggle. Just like Nawaz Sharif and Zardari don't know.
Finally decided just before elections, otherwise, all was ok.
@Aisha. Pakistanis will become masters of their own house when they vote on merit and oust the corrupt.
switches loyalty... should be titled had no loyalty and was bought out!