KARACHI, Dec 14: The idea of a single Baloch party to unite the Balochs was discussed in detail at the concluding session of the central committee of the National Party (NP) which met here on the second day under the leadership of Dr Hayee Baloch.

After the meeting, Secretary-General of the NP, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, told Dawn that a five-member committee, headed by the party chief, would soon meet the Jamhoori Watan Party chief, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, to seek his point of view on the issue.

Other members of the committee are ex-MNA Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, ex-senator Tahir Bizenjo and former provincial minister Dr Malik Baloch.

According to Hasil Khan, the single party idea was on top of the agenda and was discussed from various points of view: political as well as organizational.

He maintained that “the issue is not simple one and such a complicated issue needs extensive consultations among the parties concerned”, but he made it clear that “we are not opposed to the idea, in principle.”

He said: “we firmly believe in the unity of people as it is the basis of every struggle and our party has always worked for the unity of Balochs.”

About the present situation of Balochistan, the NP leader described it tense and uncertain, saying that “there is a rein of terror” in the province”.

Expressing concern over the situation, the NP leader said as many as 1200 people, including old and young, were picked up by different agencies and they were kept in detention centres without being produced in any court of law.

He said the troops and para-military forces were moved in different parts of the province, including Kalat, Chaghai, besides Dera Bugti and an “undeclared” operation was under way in the province.

The NP leader also condemned the attitude of President toward smaller provinces, saying “we are in contact with Sindhi nationalist leaders, including Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto and Dr Qadir Magsi, on the Kalabagh dam issue”.

Mir Bizenjo said he would represent his party at the Anti-Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal Project committee meeting being held in Karachi on Thursday.

The 37-member central committee meeting of the party also discussed issue of mega projects, including Gwadar deep-sea project, he said, adding the government did not remove the reservations of Baloch people on this count so far and thus a credibility gap still exists.

He said the central committee had taken some important decisions which would be made public in a day or two.

NP chief Dr Hayee Baloch warned the rulers to shun the policy of subjugation and recognize the rights of Balochs.

He said the rulers were giving a wrong impression that they wanted to develop the province of Balochistan.

Contrary to this, he said they desired to control the resources of Balochistan, but they would never succeed in their objective.