KARACHI, Jan 25: Karachi-based nationalist parties and NGOs have planned a march from Lyari to Saddar on Sunday to protest against the ongoing military operation in Balochistan. The march will start at 3pm from Chakiwara and end at Karachi Press Club.

A spokesman for the Balochistan National Party said the march was being organized by local representatives of different nationalist parties, including Jamhoori Watan Party, National Party, Baloch Unity Conference, as well as various NGOs.

The protesters will first converge on a point in Chakiwara and after marching through different thoroughfares in Lyari Town, they will proceed to Karachi Press Club where a grand rally will be held. Leaders of Baloch nationalist parties and the participating NGOs and groups will address the rally.

The spokesman, describing the present situation in Balochistan as ‘highly dangerous’, claimed that a fierce fighting was raging between government forces and people of Balochistan.

Comparing the situation to that which prevailed before the East Pakistan debacle, he said all pro-democracy and patriot citizens should raise their voice against military operation to ensure the country’s integrity.