QUETTA, April 30: The interior ministry has placed the names of a number of Baloch nationalist leaders, including Nawab Khair Bakhsh Mari, Sardar Ataullah Mengal on the exit control list.

According to official sources, those barred from travelling abroad include Balochistan National Party chief Akhtar Mengal, BNP Senator Sanaullah Baloch and MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal, Senator Agha Shahid Bugti of the Jamhoori Watan Party, JWP leader Amanullah Kanrani, Dera Bugti District Nazim Mohammad Kazim Bugti, Kohlu District Nazim Ali Gul Mari and Mir Sher Ali Mazari, nephew of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

The sources said that the ministry through a memorandum had informed the leaders about their names having been put on the ECL.

“Yes, I and other nationalist leaders have been put on the ECL,” Senator Sanaullah confirmed to Dawn over telephone from London where he is attending a conference.

He said he had received a letter from the ministry in this regard.

Terming the move a violation of basic rights and the Constitution, he said that through such tactics, the government would not be able to force the Baloch leaders to abandon the struggle for the legitimate rights of the people of Balochistan.