QUETTA: Jam Kamal, president of the newly-formed Balochistan Awami Party, has said that BAP has been formed to protect the legitimate rights of the province and get its due share in the national resources.

Speaking at a function on Wednesday, he said the province had been deprived of its rights for the last 70 years and till today it was facing shortage of water, lack of health facilities and unemployment.

A former bureaucrat Shahbaz Khan Mandokhel along with his supporters announced his decision to join BAP, while earlier, a former additional chief secretary of planning and development retired Major Nadir Ali Hazara had also joined the party.

Those present on the occasion included the founder of BAP and ex-Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance Dr Ruquyia Hashmi and other party leaders.

“The BAP will build a prosperous and peaceful Balochistan after winning general elections,” Mr Kamal said, adding party tickets would be given to sincere leaders and workers in the upcoming elections.

Agro-based development and shortages of water were the two main concerns which will be dealt on priority, he said. Though, Balochistan did not see any development in 70 years but now the province will witness real development in every sector.

Secretary General Manzoor Kakar said that the people of the province had already declared the party as a winner adding that the nationalists and religious parties had damaged the province and kept it deprived to maintain themselves as a political force.

Peace had been restored to the province after the sacrifices of the security forces, he said, adding that blame-game would not be accepted to the people.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2018