KARACHI, Dec 18: Secretary-General of the National Party Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo has accused the rulers of working on a plan to convert the Baloch population in Balochistan into a minority by taking ‘extra-legal measures’. He was speaking at a press conference here on Sunday evening to brief newsmen about the decisions taken by the party’s central committee which met recently.

According to Mir Bizenjo, the committee discussed the fast-changing political scenario of the province where “the government has launched an undeclared military operation.”

The NP leader said that scores of nationalist and other political activists had been detained on flimsy charges and a search operation was under way in Dera Bugti, Mekran, Kalat and Kohlu. Deployment of paramilitary forces in the areas had also been increased, he added.

“This clearly indicates that the government wants to crush the people’s voice,” he observed, and accused the rulers of working against the country’s integrity by ignoring the interests of 70 per cent of its population to safeguard those of the biggest province.

In this context, Mir Bizenjo referred to the Kalabagh dam, Greater Thal Canal and Gwadar projects.

He regretted that despite reservations expressed by smaller provinces, the government was bent upon executing these projects only to please the Punjab province.

Regarding the moves towards formation of one party to represent all Baloch people, he said the NP had endorsed the idea floated by the JWP chief, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

He said that a five-member committee, head by the NP Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, had been constituted to hold further negotiations.