QUETTA, Oct 29: The Balochistan National Party plans to stage a long march from Gwadar to Quetta in protest against military operation in Balochistan, establishing of cantonments in the province, killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, arrests of political activists and Gwadar mega projects.

This was announced by BNP president Akhtar Mengal at a press conference at his residence here on Sunday.

He said that the military operation continued in Dera Bugti and Kohlu and a few days ago the army with air cover conducted an operation in the Kalat area and arrested a number of people.

He alleged that hundreds of political activists and youths had been arrested or ‘kidnapped’ by law-enforcement agencies and despite protests by their parents and relatives, the authorities were not disclosing whereabouts of the missing youths.

Mr Mengal said that the BNP would soon release names of arrested or ‘kidnapped’ political workers and youths.

He said that the long march with the name of Lashkar-i-Balochistan would start on November 30 from Gwadar and conclude on December 11 in Quetta. During the march, public meetings would be held in Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Basima, Nal, Khuzdar, Surab, Kalat and Mastung.

He estimated that thousands of BNP workers and other people would participate in the march.

When asked about the controversy over resignations of Jamhoori Watan Party’s lawmakers, Mr Mengal said that he would not comment on JWP affairs as it was their internal issue.

However, the BNP leader said that parliamentary politics was the main hurdle in the way of forming a single Baloch party

He said that his party’s MNA and MPAs had resigned from the assemblies in protest against the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti as the institutions had lost their importance.

Answering a question, he said that the BNP central council would take a decision on the party’s participation in parliamentary politics in future.

Answering another question, he said that his party had consultations with other opposition parties and the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy on the issue of resignation.

“I told an ARD meeting in Quetta that unless we resign from the assemblies, a civil disobedience movement could not be launched.”

About a Baloch tribal jirga convened by President Musharraf in Islamabad, he said: “It is of no importance. The tribal jirga held in Kalat was convened by the Khan of Kalat as the head of Baloch tribes. In what capacity is Gen Musharraf convening a tribal Jirga? He is not chief of any tribe.”

He said that no ‘real’ Baloch tribal chief would take part in the official jirga. “However, there are some Sardars who will take part in this Jirga as they have sold themselves up to Islamabad just for Rs200,000 the government is offering to each participant.”

He said that a chartered plane would take the participants to Islamabad.