QUETTA, Sept 8: A meeting held by opposition parties in Loralai on Friday announced that agitation will continue in the province till the military operation was stopped, political detainees were released and the body of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was exhumed under the supervision of an international medical board.

Speakers accused the military-led governments of denying constitutional and political rights to smaller provinces. The meeting was organised by parties in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement and Awami National Party.

Senator Ayaz Khan Jogezai of the PMAP presided over the meeting which was addressed by Mir Hasil Bizenjo of the NP, Habib Jalib Baloch BNP-M, Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani and Bismillah Kakar of PPP Parliamentarians, Khudadad Khan of ANP and Nasibullah Bazai of PML-N.

They condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti and said that the army’s intervention in politics had plunged the country into a serious constitutional and political crisis.

Senator Jogezai said that denial of political rights to the Pakhtuns, Balochs and Sindhis and extra-constitutional methods used against oppressed nationalities had resulted in feelings of resentment against Punjab’s domination.

He said that political forces of the smaller nationalities had always opposed injustices and usurpation of their resources but the oppressors instead of recognising their rights were using force against them.

Hasil Bizenjo said that Balochis were not treated as equal citizens of the country. The military rulers in the past tried to suppress the political movement of the Baloch people but they were defeated by the resistance of the local people.

He said that army ruler Ayub Khan eliminated Nawab Nauroz Khan, Ziaul Haq hanged Z.A. Bhutto and now another ruler had killed Nawab Bugti.

Habib Jalib Baloch criticised Punjab and the army and said that dictators wanted to eliminate the Baloch political leadership in order to settle outsiders in Gwadar and other areas and turn the Baloch majority into minority.

He demanded immediate end to the military operation in Kohlu.